United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 (Joint Statement ofUndisputedFacts or “JSUF”)at Parties I. BACKGROUND enters thefollowingmemorandum andorder. summary judgment. Havingconsideredtheparties’arguments andextensivesubmissions, thecourt copyrighted workstodevelopthepopular former employee DavidJaffe(collectively“def (collectively “plaintiffs”)allegethatSonyComputer Entertainment America, Inc.(“Sony”)andits 1 THROUGH100,inclusive, AMERICA, INC.,DAVIDJAFFE,andDOES SONY COMPUTERENTERTAINMENT v. BARRETTE-HERZOG, JENNIFER B.DATHa.k.a. JONATHAN BISSOON-DATHand Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page1of27 Plaintiffs Bissoon-Dath and Dathareindividuals In thisaction,JonathanBissoon-Dath(“Bissoon-Dath”)andJenniferB.Dath Defendants. Plaintiffs, NORTHERN DISTRICTOFCALIFORNIA UNITED STATESDISTRICTCOURT God ofWar / endants”) misappropriated plaintiffs’original

2. Atsome oralltimes relevanttothisaction, Judgment Re: Defendants’MotionforSummary MEMORANDUM &ORDER No. C08-1235MHP video game. Defendantsnowmove for livinginDavis,California. DocketNo.97 1 (“Dath”) United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Greece todeclareatruce andparticipateinanOlym Olympiad Aat13;Owen7;Theseus9.In with ZeusandAthenaexpressingdistastefor temporarily beatenSpartanarmy retreatsfrom Athens,thegodsgatheranddiscusssituation, god, Ares,istheonetruegod.”) kings “getthesoldierstodowhatevertheywant by brainwashingthem intobelievingthatthewar . thehonorandgloryoffollowingtheirkings in theserviceofAres.”); kings areloyaltothegodAres. id. Balzak. Spartan attackonAthensledbytheco-ki distributing theworksinJanuaryorFebruary2002.Bissoon-DathDec.¶¶20-22&24. works, includingthemap, arecollectivelyreferredtohereinas“plaintiffs’works.”Plaintiffsbegan from Bissoon-DathinFebruaryorMarch2002. of the“IslandatEdgeLivingWorld” (“themap”), whichwascreatedbyDathwithinput “Olympiad” (“Olympiad”). Adventures ofOwen”(“Owen”),andtwoscreenpl These includetwotreatments, “Theseus:AScreenplayTreatment” (“Theseus”)and“The Plaintiffs’Works II. March 2005. He wastheleaddesignerof (Complaint) ¶¶6-8.DefendantJaffewasatalltimes relevanttothisactionanemployee ofSony. PlayStation Portable(“PSP”)videogame consoles Sony isacorporationheadquarteredinFosterCit Dath actedasanagentforBissoon-Dath.DocketNo.84(Bissoon-DathDec.)¶¶22-24.Defendant , Exh.F(“Olympiad”) at4; Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page2of27 With certainvariations,eachofplaintiffs’workstellsasimilar story.Theworksopenwitha Plaintiffs allegedefendantsinfringedtheircopyr Docket No.44(OliverMovingDec.),Exh.D(“Owen”)at6; 2 DocketNo.35(JaffeDec.)¶¶3-4 Bissoon-Dath Dec.¶10.“Owen”includedanoriginalillustratedmap id. God ofWar ; See , Exh.G(“Olympiad A”)at5.ItislaterrevealedthattheSpartan see also Olympiad at50(TheSpartansolders“must only obeyonecause Olympiad Aat52;Owen7;Theseus23.Asthe video game, whichSonycommercially launchedin the stateofwarinGreece.Olympiad at12-13; order torestorepeace,Zeusdecidesall ; DocketNo.33(BeckerDec.)¶5. Id. y, California,whichdistributesPlayStation2and ng and/orgeneralGaylonandtheSpartancolonel 2 ays, “Olympiad VersionA”(“Olympiad A”)and and relatedgames. JSUFat2;DocketNo.1 ¶21;DocketNo.85(DathDec.)21.Thefive piad. Olympiad at13;Olympiad Aat14;Owen ights tooneormore offivespecificworks. id. , Exh.E(“Theseus”)at5;

id. at86(TheSpartan United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 2005. Defendants’ III. democracy.”) (ellipsisinoriginal); prosperity initshistory,ascityafteradopted theAthenianpoliticalsystem called. never again,threatened[sic]therestofGreece,which enjoyedthelongestperiodofpeaceand Olympiad Aat106.Peaceanddemocracy thenreignoverGreece. Spartans and“anarmy oftheunitedpeopleGreece”liberatesAthens.Olympiad at 104; Athens. Theseusat42-43.In“Olympiad” and“Olympiad A,”thestadium crowdoverwhelms the to Ares,firstseizestheSpartanDictatorandth “Theseus,” theSpartanroyalguardchampion, tiredofthesacrificejusticeandfreedom inservice “Owen,” ZeusorderstheSpartanstoadoptdemocr thwarted. Dictator, in“Owen”and“Theseus”)areremove In theend,protagonistiscrownedOlympic champion, theSpartanco-kings(orGeneraland Sparta secretlyattacksAthens.Olympiad at81; Olympiad at57;Olympiad Aat59;Owen13; Theseus at13,16,19.AtruceiseventuallydeclaredandtheOlympic Games areheldinSparta. Sparta toparticipateinthetruce rescue ahostageheldbyHadesintheunderworld(in“Owen”and“Theseus”only)convince During hisquest,thechampion must capturetheNemean Lion,rescueahostagefrom theAmazons, Olympic Games then sentforthbytheAthenianCounciltoperform aseriesoftasksculminating inthetruceand to declareatruce gods agreethatZeuswillinsteadchooseamortal whosequestwillbetoconvinceAthensandSparta at 7;Theseus9.When AresandApollo(andHermes, inthreeoftheworks)objecttoplan, Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page3of27 Id. God ofWar The champion isinformed ofthequestbyamagical nymph beforebeingsenttoAthensand Thegame israted“M”for a“MATURE17+”audience. Olympiad at102,104;Olympiad Aat . Olympiad at19,35;Olympiad Aat . Olympiad at14-15,19;Olympiad A is amulti-hour videogame. JSUFat3.Sonyreleased God ofWar . Olympiad at36,44,50;Olympiad Aat38,46,52;Owen10,12; Video Game see also Olympiad Aat106;Owen20;Theseus43. en convincestheSpartanarmy towithdrawfrom d from power,andthesneakattackonAthensis Olympiad Aat83;Owen16;Theseus19-20. Theseus at21.While thegames areinprogress, 104, 106;Owenat19;Theseus41-43.In 3 acy andliftthesiegeofAthens.Owenat19.In 20-21, 37;Owenat8,9;Theseus10,13. at 14-17;Owen7;Theseus9. See Id. at5. Olympiad at104(“Sparta, God ofWar in March United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 becomes agiant,and defeats Aresinbattle. grave nearAthens. underworld, buthescrambles ontothestairway leadingintoHadesandcrawlsbacktolifethrougha launches acolumn thatimpales Kratos dragging itoutof thetemple whenAres,stillattacking Athensbutawareof Kratos’achievement, adversaries withhis“BladesofChaos,”Kratosquests tofindPandora’sBox.Helocatesitandis with theTemple ofPandorachainedtohisback. desert, followingandthenkillingfourSirenstodoso,findaTitancrawlingaroundthedesert At theedgeofDesertLostSouls,astatue Athens tellsKratoshemust findPandora’s city withanarmy ofmythical beastsincluding itself. attack Athens.JaffeDec.,Exh.E(Game Manual)at3.Thisscenedoesnotappearinthegame and AresaregatheredtodiscussKratos,Athe game manual includesagathering-of-the-godsscenethatexplainsAthena’srequest: Zeus,Athena Speaking throughthestatue,Athenaoffersdivine Kratos awakeningfrom anightmare andimploring a nightmares ofhisfamily’s murder. 29, 31.KratosthenrejectedAresandbegan humanity robbed,”untilArestrickedKratosinto of hisenemies. and abarbariankingabouttokillhim, KratosofferedhislifetoAresinexchangeforthedestruction Spartan military butrosetocommand anentirearmy. Script) at45. opponents andultimately replacesAresasthegodofwar. Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page4of27 In thegame, alsosetinancientGreece,thewarriorKratosfightsmyriad human andmythical Having acceptedAthena’soffer,Kratostravelsto 3 Inaseriesofflashbacks,theplayerlearnsthatKratoswasoncecaptainin Id. at22-23.Thereafter,Kratosledarmies inconquest,servingAresas“abeast,his Id. at35-36.ThereherecoversPandora’sBoxfrom Ares,opensthelidand Id. . Id. at4.Theactionof at32-33.Kratosdiesandbeginstofallthe Box, theonlyweaponcapableofkillingAres. Id. serving othergods,hopingtheywouldrelievehis Minotaurs andZombies. ofAthenainforms Kratosthathemust crossthe at 38,42.Later,Kratos attempts suicidebyjumping killingandburninghisownwifechild. Id. forgivenesstoKratosifhekillsAres. na complains thatAresispreparingforcesto 4 at17-18.Liberallyextinguishinghis statue ofAthenatorelievehisnightmares. Id. at15.With hisarmy almost annihilated Athens andfindsthatAresisattackingthe God ofWar Oliver MovingDec.,Exh.W (Merged game-play beginswith Id. at6-7.TheOraclein Id. Id. The at16. Id. Id. at

United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 copyright cases,summary judgment isappropriateifthecourtcanconclude, afterviewingthe see Anderson discovery, setforthspecificfactsshowingthatthere is initial burden,thenon-moving partymust gobeyondthepleadingsand,byitsownaffidavitsor material fact. portions ofthepleadings,discoveryandaffidavits credibility determinations. reasonable jurycouldreturnaverdictforthenon-moving party. of theproceedings,andanissuematerial fact Liberty Lobby,Inc. party isentitledtojudgment asamatter oflaw.Fed.R.Civ.P.56(c); doubts infavorofthenon-moving party,therearenoge LEGAL STANDARD defendants thereafterfiledtheinstantmotion forsummary judgment. continuances topursuealternativedisputeresolution.Thepartiesdidnotreachasettlement, and Procedural History IV. Pandora’s Temple werediscoveredinmodern times. that KratoshadaweakerbrotherwhodiedwhenturnedoutbytheSpartans,andruinsof actually thesonof Zeusandamortal woman whomoved toSpartawhendrivenoutof hervillage, including World War IIandtheVietnam war. to assume thenow-vacantthroneofgodwar, from whenceheoverseesvarious modern wars, relieve hisnightmares. off acliffintotheseabecausegods,despiteforgivinghim formurdering hisfamily, didnot Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page5of27 “Although summary judgment isnothighlyfavoredonquestionsofsubstantialsimilarity in Summary judgment may begrantedonlywhen,drawingallinferencesandresolving Plaintiffs initiatedthisactioninFebruary2008.Thepartiesstipulatedtoanumber of , 477U.S.at250. Celotex Corp.v.Catrett , 477U.S.242,247-255(1986).Afactis“material” ifitmay affecttheoutcome Id. at43-44.Heisthenliftedfrom theseaanddirectedupaflightofstairs Id. at255.Themoving partybearstheburdenofidentifyingthose , 477U.S.317,323(1986).Oncethemoving partymeets its Id. is“genuine”iftheevidencesuchthata at44-45.BonusscenesrevealthatKratosis 5 that demonstrate theabsenceofagenuineissue Id. agenuineissuefortrial.FedR.Civ.P.56(e); nuine issuesofmaterial factandthemoving at48-49,50. Id. at248.Thecourtmay notmake see generallyAndersonv. United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 v. Bolton that thedefendant hadareasonablepossibilitytoviewtheplaintiff’s work. copying withashowingofaccessandsubstantial similarity. Access may be establishedbyshowing similar. (2) byshowingthatthedefendanthadaccessto workandthattheworksatissuearesubstantially copyright inthoseworks. are originalworksofauthorshipforpurposes Random House work inquestionand(2)thatthedefendantcopiedprotectedelements ofthatwork. of copyrightinfringement, aplaintiffmust showth perceived, reproduced,orotherwisecommunicated . works ofauthorshipfixedinanytangiblemedi claims. UndertheCopyrightAct,asamended in and ProfessionsCode.Theallegationsofcopyright infringement andunfairbusinesspracticesinvi DISCUSSION omitted). Films, Inc.v.TimeWarnerEntm’tCo.,L.P. summary judgment infavorofcopyright defendantsontheissueofsubstantialsimilarity.” judgment isimproper.” “Where reasonableminds coulddifferontheissueofsubstantialsimilarity, however,summary F.2d 1353,1355(9thCir.1990)(quoting reasonable jurorcouldfindsubstantialsimilarity ofideasandexpression.” evidence anddrawinginferencesinamanner most favorabletothenon-moving party,thatno Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page6of27 A plaintiffmay establishcopyingeither(1)bypresentingdirectevidenceof or Plaintiffs haveadvancedclaims forc Id. , 212F.3d477,482(9th Cir.2000).Suchapossibilitycanariseeitherwhere therehas Plaintiffshavenotpresenteddirectevidenceof copyingandsoseektoestablish , 297F.3d815,822(9thCir.2002).Defendants Id. (citationsomitted). TheNinthCircuit“ha[s] frequently affirmed Narell v.Freeman , 462F.3d1072,1077(9thCir.2006)(citations opyright infringement, contributorycopyright um ofexpression.from whichtheycanbe olation ofsection17200theCaliforniaBusiness the CopyrightActorthatplaintiffsownavalid 1976, “copyrightprotectionsubsists.inoriginal 6 at (1)heorsheownsavalidcopyrightinthe infringement form thebasisforlattertwo . .”17U.S.C.§102(a).Toprevailonaclaim , 872F.2d907,909-10(9thCir.1989)). do notdisputethatplaintiffs’works Shaw v.Lindheim Three BoysMusicCorp. Cavalier v. Funky , 919 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 copyright law;theyremain foreverthe common propertyofartistic mankind.” ideas, butnottheideasthemselves. ‘as awhole.’” use[s] analyticdissectiontodetermine thescope permission canbecompared whenitcomes totheultimate question ofillicitcopying,[thecourt] 1218; inquiry must belefttothejuryandsummary judgment must bedenied. the extrinsictestisrelevant:if theplaintiff satisfi observer, withnoexpertassistance.” intrinsic prong“test[s]forsimilarity ofexpressi are appropriatetotheextrinsictest. Television sequence ofevents.” “articulable similarities betweentheplot,themes, dialogue,mood, settings,pace, characters,and expression.” extrinsic test.objectivelyconsiderswhethertherearesubstantialsimilarities inboth components. v. MCA,Inc. “striking similarity” betweentheworksmay giverisetoapermissible inferenceofcopying. shown.” rule,” requiringa“lowerstandardofproofs plaintiff’s workandthedefendant’sallegedaccess. possibility, butitmay beprovedcircumstantially suchasbyshowingachainof eventslinkingthe the worktodefendant. been widedissemination ofaplaintiff’s Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page7of27 Kouf “Because onlythoseelements ofaworkthatareprotectableandusedwithouttheauthor’s Substantial similarity isanalyzedusingatwo-parttestwith“extrinsic”and“intrinsic” Rice v.FoxBroad.Co. , 16F.3d1042,1045(9thCir.1994)).Analyticdissectionofaworkandexperttestimony , 16F.3dat1045. , 812F.2d421,423(9thCir.1987)(citationsomitted). Id. Apple Computer,Inc.v.MicrosoftCorp. Apple Computer Theextrinsictestrequiresacomparison ofspecific,concreteelements, focusingon Funky Films Id. Theevidencemust risebeyondmere speculationorabare , 35F.3dat1443.Copyrightlawprotectsawriter’s expressionof , 330F.3d1170,1178(9thCir.2003).Absentevidenceofaccess,a , 462F.3dat1077(quoting Kouf Smith v.Jackson Funky Films work orwherethereisaparticularchainofeventslinking , 16F.3dat1045.“Generalplotideasarenotprotected by ubstantial similarity whenahighdegreeofaccessis on from thestandpointofordinaryreasonable of copyrightprotectionbeforeworksareconsidered es theextrinsictest,intrinsictest’ssubjective 7 , 462F.3dat1077.Onsummary judgment, only Id. , 84F.3d1213,1218(9thCir.1996).The , 35F.3d1435,1442(9thCir.1994).“[T]he TheNinthCircuitappliesan“inverseratio Kouf v.WaltDisneyPictures& Smithv.Jackson Berkic v.Crichton

ideas and , 84F.3dat Baxter , United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 appended tothedeclaration, plaintiffs’motion isGRANTED pursuanttoFederalRuleofEvidence contents ofEdithHamilton’s object tothedeclarationofDavidJaffeonsevera DENIED. litigants’ resourcestoallowfurtherdiscoveryrelating totheaccessprong.TheRule56(f)motion is readily adjudicatedbasedonthelackofsubstantial similarity; accordingly,itwouldwastethe question ofaccess.Evenifaccesscouldbeproved, proceeding withthemotion. Notably,therequestedadditionaldepositions eachpertaintothe No. 17(minute order).Plaintiffsnowassert 2008, casemanagement conference,thecourtlimited thepartiestofivedepositionsperside.Docket continuance ofthemotion forsummary judgment pendingfurtherdiscovery.AtanAugust25, Preliminary Matters I. question ofaccess. even ifaccesstoallofplaintiffs’workswereproven.Accordingly,thecourtdoesnotreach concludes belowthatnoreasonablejurorcouldfindsubstantialsimilarity ofideasandexpression, Id. an authorstringsasignificantnumber ofunprotectable patterns inwhichtheyarise[can helpto] satisfy theextrinsictest.Theparticularsequenceinwhich Berkic between themajor characters.’” or ‘theactualconcreteelements thatmake upthetotalsequenceofeventsandrelationships Cir. 1983).“[P]rotectableexpressionincludesthesp flow naturallyfrom unprotectablebasicplotpremises. 761 F.2d1289,1293(9thCir.1985).Nordoescopyrightlawprotect“scenesafaire,”scenesthat

Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page8of27 , 761F.2dat1293).“However,thepresenceofsomany genericsimilarities andthecommon Plaintiffs havealsofiledseveralobjections Plaintiffs havefiledamotion underFederalRu The partieshavebriefedboththeissuesofaccessandsubstantialsimilarity. Thecourt Mythology: TimelessTalesofGodsandHeroes Metcalf v.Bochco that theyrequireadditionaldepositionsbefore l grounds.TotheextentJaffeopinesabout 8 to evidencepresentedbydefendants.Plaintiffs , 294F.3d1069,1074(9thCir.2002) plaintiffs’ copyrightinfringement claim canbe ecific detailsofanauthor’srenderingideas, le ofCivilProcedure56(f)fordenialor elements canitselfbeaprotectableelement.” Id. ; See v.Durang , 711F.2d141,143(9th , excerptsofwhichare

(quoting United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Accordingly, plaintiff’smotion isDENIED. knowledge ofparticularmyths andtheirelements, nottoanswertheultimate legalquestions atissue. W. Bulloch.Totheextent thecourthasconsideredMartin’stestimony, ithas done soforhis explains howitdiffersfrom the“SourceAnalysis infringement atall.He notesthathisanalysisapplies“theComparative Method” andclearly “colored” hismethodology. Infact,Martindoesnotdiscuss the legalstandardforcopyright grounds thathisopinionsarebasedonanincorrectlegalstandardwhichmight haveimproperly does notrelyuponthesestatements. of theFaydeclarationandparagraph10Kr declaration isGRANTED.Themotion tostrikepa of theOliverdeclarationisDENIED,andmotion tostrikeparagraphs40through59ofthat GRANTED becausehisstatements relyuponhearsay challenged portionsoftheJaffedeclarationarenotrelieduponbycourt. characterizations, themotion tostrikethesecharacterizationsisGRANTED. Theremaining strikes thecourtasrathersilly.However,becausedoesnotinanyeventrelyonJaffe’s witness must submit anexpertreportbeforebeingallowedtoopinethatDantewroteabouthell knowledge ofpopularculturereferences,”aconceptthatisprobablyoxymoronic. Thenotionthata Doom Underworld in familiar withmany stockandcommon cinematic usesof deserts,valleys,chasms, andhellthe on thebasisthatheisimproperly offeringane treatise. plaintiffs’ motion tostriketheHamilton excerptsthemselves, astheyareadmissible asalearned 1002 (the“bestevidence”rule),andthecourtstrikesJaffe’stestimony. ThecourtDENIES Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page9of27 , and Plaintiffs alsochallengethedeclarationofde Plaintiffs’ motion tostriketwoparagraphs See Clash oftheTitans Fed.R.Evid.803(18). Edith Hamilton .” Accordingtoplaintiff,Jaffeishererelyingon“hisspecialized , Wonder Woman 4 Plaintiffsalsoaskthecourttostrikecertainstatements byJaffe xpert opinion.Forexample, Jaffestated,“Iam , Dante’s Inferno awczyk declarationisDENIED;however,thecourt ” method usedbyplaintiffs’expert,Dr.Anthony from thedeclarationofAllanBeckeris 9 ragraph 7oftheSteindeclaration,paragraph10 fendants’ expertDr.RichardP.Martinonthe statements. Themotion tostrikeparagraph19 , IndianaJonesandtheTempleof United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I CopyrightInfringement: SubstantialSimilarity II. is seenafteritsattackon Athens,andZeusexpresseshisdispleasureatthe stateofwarinthemortal in “Olympiad,” elevengodsaregatheredaroundapoolofwater onwhosesurfacetheSpartanarmy gather togetherfordiscussionisprovidedasabackground fortheassignment inbothstories. Ares isattackingAthenswithmythical beasts.MergedScript at 4-7.Asceneinwhichthegods Olympiad at4-19.In attacks Athens,byconvincingAthensandSparta to Greek god.Inplaintiffs’works,Zeusinitiatesa quest torestorepeaceafterahuman Spartanarmy (citing 1218. Non-protectableelements arefilteredoutanddisregarded. characters, andsequenceofevents.” examines “articulablesimilarities betweentheplot,themes, dialogue,mood, settings,pace, summary judgment inacopyrightinfringement action,the“extrinsictest”isapplied.Thistest exhibits. purposes ofargument; theyarebriefing,notevidence.Accordingly,thecourtdisregardsthose 7-3 and7-4.Plaintiffsarecorrect.Thesechar declarations, amount totwenty-ninepagesofbriefingbeyondthelimit imposed byCivilLocalRules comprising chartsshowingpurportedinaccuracies objection. Secondly,plaintiffsarguethatexhib of thesedeclarationspertainstoaccess,notsubstantialsimilarity, sothecourtdeclinestotakeup custodians, presumably JennaGambaro andRobinWeitz—for thefirsttime withtheirreply.Each Shapiro, KenSherman, MichaelShane,JudithKarfiol,SusanDeardoffandtwodocument Firstly, plaintiffsobjectthatdefendantsfile Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page10of27 Cavalier Finally, plaintiffsmake twoobjectionstothe .Plot Plaintiffs’ worksand A. Plaintiffs contendthat 5

, 297F.3dat822). God ofWar God ofWar God ofWar , thegoddessAthenaassignsaquesttokillgod Areswhile 6

Funky Films both involveamortal human questingatthebehestofa is substantiallysimilar totheirworks.Onamotion for d declarationsfrom sevennewwitnesses—Larry ts wereproducedbydefendants’attorneysforthe its EEandFFtotheOliverreplydeclaration, 10 inplaintiffs’oppositionbriefandaccompanying , 462F.3dat1077; participate inOlympic Games. materials filedwithdefendants’replybrief. 7

Funky Films Smithv.Jackson , 462F.3dat1077 See, e.g., , 84F.3dat 8 Early United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 alone inapoolofwater different. OnlyZeus,AthenaandAresarepres gathering-of-the-gods scene,whichoccursonlyinthegame manual andnotthegame itself,isquite outcome bysuggestingtheselectionofamortal champion. Olympiad Aat15-17.The Ares, Apollo,andHermes threatentoremove ZeusbyforcebutHestiaintervenesandavertsthis and Zeusuntilagreestochooseamortal champion. Olympiad at14-15.In“Olympiad A,” Theseus at9.In“Olympiad,” AresandApollomorph intogiantcobrasandphysicallyfightAthena Ares “threatenstostartawaramong thegods”unlessZeusagreestomortal champion scheme. gods “arguebackandforth”aboutZeus’sinterventi of plaintiffs’worksend with theprotagonistwi cross theDesertofLostSoulsandnavigatethr only weaponcapableofkillingAres.MergedScript at16.While seekingthisweapon,Kratosmust not givenspecifictaskstoperform; rather,heis and convinceSpartatoagreeatruce.Olympiad at35,44,50.In Games, requiresthatthe in participation ofAthensandSpartaintheOlympic 5. appears toKratosonlylaterandaskshim tokillAresinreturnfor forgiveness. MergedScriptat4- to Ares’simpending attackonAthens,nottheselectionofanymortal champion. overthrowing Zeus;theonlyargument isabrief“ at 3.Thereisnophysicalbattleamong anyofthegodsin attack onAthens,buttheymake nomention ofchoosingmortals foranypurpose.Game Manual Sparta todeclareatruceforthegames. Olympic Games asameans toachievepeace,choosingthemortal OwentoconvinceAthens and world. GodofWar Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page11of27 In bothworks,theprotagonistsmust accomplish varioustaskstoachievetheirgoals:the Olympiad at12-13.Zeusultimately decidestoorderallofGreeceparticipateinthe . In“Olympiad,” theAthenianCouncil,as a conditionofthecity’sparticipationin 9 resembling awell;thegodsdiscussKratos’sstrengthand protagonist capturetheNemean lion,retrieveahostagefrom theAmazons, Id. at 13,19.In“Owen,”thisdecisionismade afterthe ough Pandora’sTemple. MergedScriptat16-18.All nning theOlympics, Athenssavedfrom destruction ent todiscussthe“mortal” Kratos,whoappears told thatPandora’sBox,hiddeninthedesert,is 11 quibble” betweenAresandAthenawhichpertains Games inplaintiffs’works,andthedeathofAres on inmortal affairs.Owenat7.In“Theseus,” God ofWar God ofWar scene noranythreatof , theprotagonistis See id. Ares’s impending God ofWar Athena United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 democracies SpartaandAthensbothflourishedas economically andsociallyasneverbefore.”);Theseusat43(“Coexistingpeacefullysister Owen at20(“Coexistingpeacefullyassisterde scheme withArestoperpetuatewar,andendpeace democracy spreadingoverGreece. world, proceedwiththeprotagoniststrivingtocreate conditionsforpeacewhiletheSpartans and theestablishment of thesame. All triumph overevil. dark sideofreligiousfanaticism, ofaseemingly impossible quest,theavoidanceofconflictand meaningful, if atall. elements arefiltered, thetwostories’plotsaresimilar onlyatalevelof abstractionthatisbarely among theGreekgods. such asHesiod’s iterations ofclassicalGreekmythology suchas famously foughtthePeloponnesianWar. More and Sparta.Thelatterantagonism issurelynotprotectable,asthehistoricalAthensandSparta antagonism betweenAthena,thegoddessofwisdom, accomplishments oftherespectivequestingheroesarequitedifferent.Bothstoriesinvolve Campbell, both involveaquestingheroactinginaccordwithdivinepowerorpowers. Merged Scriptat45-46. and KratoskillingAres,becoming thenewgodofwar,andoverseeingaseriesmodern wars. at 43; by theSpartans,andallofGreeceexperiencinglastingpeaceprosperity.Owenat20;Theseus Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page12of27

Olympiad Aat106; .Themes Plaintiffs contendthattheirworksand B. There issome similarity betweenthetwostories.Ashavestoriessincetime immemorial, The HeroWithAThousandFaces Theogony ” Pl.’sOpp.at21.Inreality,thethemes ofplaintiffs’worksarepeace,democracy See

Olympiad at104.Incontrast, , containplotlinesinvolvingvariouscombinations ofwarsandrivalries DocketNo.47-1(MartinReport)at26-27.Oncetheunprotectable of theworksbeginwithZeusdesiringpeacein mortal (2d ed.1968).Yetthemotivations, tasksand God ofWar mocracies, SpartaandAthensbothflourished Thor generally, asplaintiffsnote,popularculture 12 never before.”);Olympiad at104(“Greece. and and Ares,thegodofwar,betweenAthens God ofWar Wonder Woman share thethemes of“heroicsavior,the ends withAthensdestroyed , aswellancientstories See generally Joseph United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 plaintiffs’ worksculminate inaneraofpeaceandprosperity, while suicidal anguish,wrenchingguiltandmurderous violence.Thisisinkeepingwiththefactthat unpersuasive: theself-doubtofplaintiffs’prota bandits, plaintiffs’ protagonist,engenderedeitherby desire toendthenightmares ofhisfamily’s murder athisownhands withtheself-doubtof Olympiad at22;Olympiad Aat24;Theseus6; revealed, theyappeartobethedesireabidebyZeus’swishesandprovehimself capable. his family. Merged Scriptat4-5.Totheextent in plaintiffs’works;instead,most fightsendwiththeantagonistsmerely unconscious. outside of thegenericbattlescenesinwhichSpartanarmy attacksAthens,veryfew deathsoccur Nemean Lion andinsteadtransforms thebeastintohis“tamed pet.”Olympiad at44.Indeed, For instance,plaintiffs’protagonistrefusestokillsuch not absentfrom plaintiffs’ works,itlacksthethematic centrality andintensityseenin ground.”); igniting theburnersandsettingRedshirtonfire,whoscreams ashiscageisloweredtothe destroy allfourSirens.”); images.”); (“Slaughtered likeanimals, thevictims laybeforehim.”); Merged Scriptat2(“Anarrowslams intotheFisherman’s head,shatteringhisskull.”); continuation ofwar.Violence . democracy.”); Olympiad Aat106(same). enjoyed .peaceandprosperityascityafteradoptedtheAthenianpoliticalsystem called. Olympiad at27-28(Spartansoldiersknockedunconscious),47(Amazon knockedunconscious). Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page13of27 The primary themes in Kratos’s motivation foracceptingthequesttokillAresisdivine see id. id. Theseusat23-24,orbyhisparents’ridicule, at6(“TheaxelopsoffthesecondRedshirt’shead.”); at42(“Kratosthruststheswordupwards,rippingthroughAres.”).While violenceis id. at22(“ASpartanisdecapitated.”); God ofWar pervades thegame, theultimate goalof whichistokillAres. are violence,thesearchfordivineforgivenessand his failureatageeighttoprotect gonist hasnodiscernablesimilarity toKratos’s that themotivations ofplaintiffs’protagonistare 13 Owen at9.Plaintiffsattempt toequateKratos’s an “amazing animal” astherampaging see id. Owenat16.Thisattempt is at 4(“Arapidsuccessionofviolent id. at24(“Kratospullsthelever, God ofWar id. at18(“Kratos.must forgiveness formurdering ends withanewgod family from family God ofWar See, e.g. id . at3 See See , . United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 characters, Zeusexpresses absolutelynoconcernforAthensinthisscene. In“Olympiad” and of ushereonMountOlympus.” Game Manualat3.Asdiscussedbelowintheanalysisof has gatheredthegodstodiscussa“mortal whose actionsIsensecouldhavegraveimplications toall Zeus expressesnoconcernaboutAthensinanyof theworksatissue.In Zeus expressingconcernabouttheimpending destructionofAthens. verbatim.” Theydonot. Forexample, plaintiffs gods scenes.Indeed,plaintiffs’counselrepresented atoralargument thatthesescenes“read ordinary andclichéd. generally, notaSpartancommander. bounds.” Thisismisleading inthatthequotefrom “Olympiad A”isreferringtothe“Spartans” “thirst forwarknewnobounds”withthestatement thatKratos’s“desireforconquestknewno copyright. Plaintiffsalsocompare thestatement in“Olympiad A”thattheSpartancommander’s phrases areordinarilyusedtoexpressloyalty Spartan commanders both act“inthename of”or“intheserviceAresatsome point.Such are notcomparing dialoguebutratherscenedescrip cited pagesoftheMergedScript. 4-5. Yetonlyonewordquotedbyplaintiff(orratheraform ofit)—“barbarian”—appearsonthe “protests” againstthe“barbarism” oftheact their crueltybykillinga“terrified”Spartaninnocentwhois“dragged”tohisdeath,despite commander, withaSpartancommander foundinplaintiffs’works,allegingthatbothdemonstrate absolutely nothematic rolein of waroverseeingwarsthroughouttheages.MergedScriptat45.Moreover,democracy plays Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page14of27 C. Plaintiffs also endeavortopointoutsimilarities inthestories’respectivegathering-of-the- Plaintiffs attempt toillustratesimilarities indialoguebycomparing Kratos,aformer Spartan .GatheringoftheGods 2. ACruel,BrutishSpartanCommander 1. Dialogue God ofWar Compare id.with

See Olympiad Aat52.Thephrase“knewnobounds”isalso . Thematically, thetwostoriesarequitedifferent. . See a divinityandarenot,standingalone,protectableby assert thatthedialogueinbothscenesbeginswith 14 Bissoon-DathDec.,Exh.4(comparison charts)at tions. Plaintiffsalsonotethattherespective Merged Scriptat24-25.Additionally,plaintiffs See God ofWar Pl.’s Opp.at20.Infact, ,

Zeus sayshe United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Olympiad Aat22 has chosenwell,nodoubt.PerhapsAthenswill perfect toundertakethisnoblequest”Zeus’sremark inthe been clichédforawhile—perhapsfivethousand yearsormore. of thedialoguearedissimilar, andthenotionofawaronearth leadingtoawaramong thegodshas of adefendant’sassertionthathedidnothaveaccess used inanearlierversionofallegedlyinfringi 16 (“DarkOdyssey”storyboards)at10.Thefact for in “Civil waronOlympus wouldmean anendtousall.” Olympiad Aat16.Plaintiffsassertthat would riskwaronOlympus .from whichmany among uswillsurelymeet aterribleend?” particular waragainstAthens. contentious naturesamong bothmortals andgods.Thelatterspeakstothepotentialspreadofa The secondsentencesarenotsubstantiallysimilar. Thefirstspeakstotheunfortunateprevalenceof the languageisordinary,clichédandhaslikelybeenspokenbyeverymother ofmultiple children. Olympus.” Game Manualat3.While thefirstsentencesofthesestatements aresomewhat similar, childish quibblesareyourown,butIdonotwantthiswarencroachingonthestepsofMount 13, Olympiad Aat14.Inthe There hasbeenmore thanenoughargument betweenmortals .andamong usGods.”Olympiad at stories. In“Olympiad” and“Olympiad A,”Zeussays,“Stopit.rightnowthetwoofyou. “peace inthemortal world,”notAthensspecifically. “Olympiad A,” Zeusisconcernedaboutthe“sorrystate”ofGreece,“wholeGreece”and God ofWar Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page15of27 God ofWar Finally, plaintiffscompare Athena’sremark in“Olympiad” and“Olympiad A”that“Owenis Plaintiffs alsopointtodialoguein“Olympiad A”inwhichthegoddessHestiaasks,“You Plaintiffs alsoassertthatstatements made byZeustoAthenaandAresaresimilar inthetwo . Thestatement appearsinthestoryboardsfor“DarkOdyssey,”anearlyprototype , butitwasnotincludedinthefinalwork.DocketNo.93(JacobsOpp.Dec.),Exh. with Game Manualat 12. Thisdialogueissimply notsimilar. God ofWar God ofWar game manual, Zeussays,“Enough,bothofyou.Your survive after all.” ng work,butnottheworkitself,couldbeprobative 15 that astrikinglysimilar excerptofdialoguewas includes asimilar statement byAthena,namely to theplaintiff’swork.Inthiscase,words See Infact,thisstatement isnowheretobefound Olympiad at13;Olympiad Aat13-14. God ofWar Compare game manual that“Athena Olympiad at20 and 10 United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 while drinking“brew,racing tofinish.”); sprinkled inforcontrast. their works,butsuchterms more accuratelydescribetheworksasawholewith some darkerscenes Opp. at21.Plaintiffsdescribesome “lighter, works as“extremely dark,violent,gloomy andfilledwithdread”ishyperbolic atbest. comedy. While plaintiffsaccuratelypointtosome dialogue. God ofWar clichéd andunprotectable. (entering acaveversussearchingforPandora’sBox),andthephrase“nonehas/havereturned”is Box. Nonehavereturned.”MergedScriptat17. Nemean Lion’scave.In none hasreturned. protagonist astheOracleisbeingcarriedawaybyHarpies.MergedScriptat11. Greece. The from Zeus,aftertheCouncilhaslaughedathisstory.Olympiad at33.Thestatement referstoallof plaintiffs’ protagonistasheseekstoconvince on it”isclichéd.Moreover,thecontextofthesestatements isquitedifferent.Thefirstspokenby Script at11.Anymoviegoer canattestthatthe God ofWar “make [theCouncil]listen.AllofGreecedependsonit.” Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page16of27 .Mood The mood of D. Plaintiffs’ comparison oflanguageregardingajavelininplaintiffs’worksandcolumn in Later inthequest,plaintiffs’protagonistis During hisquest,plaintiffs’protagonisttellsth , theOracletellsKratos,“Youmust findme .Athensdependsonit.”Merged doesnotrefertodialogueandisthusirrelevanttheanalysisofsimilarities in God ofWar .TheQuest 3. ” Olympiad at40;Olympiad Aat42.“There” referstotheentrance plaintiffs’ worksisgenerallylight-hearted,with elements ofromance and God ofWar See statement refersonlytoAthensandisspokenbytheOracle , e.g. , Olympiad at15-16(protagonistandside-kickchataboutgirls , Kratosiswarned:“ManyhavegoneinsearchofPandora’s id. at30-31(Owenrunsinto amerchant’s stallwhile even comic” scenesasbeing“sprinkled”throughout the AthenianCouncilthathetrulyisonamission snippet ofdialoguestatingthatsomething “depends 16 Thesestatements refertoverydifferentthings warned: “throughtheremany have entered.but dark scenes,plaintiffs’characterizationofboth e leaderoftheAthenianCouncilthathemust Olympiad at33;Olympiad Aat35.In See Pl.’s United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 these settingsareabsentfrom plaintiffs’works. on aboattheAegeanSeaandinDesertof LostSoulswherePandora’sTemple islocated; are absentfrom and neartheprotagonist’svillage,aNemean VillageandtheislandofAmazons; thesesettings Compare “Olympiad”—are setin Sparta, whichappearsin in theUnderworld.Significantportionsof Olympus. id. protagonist andanothercompetitor intentionallyavoidhittingthecaptiveSpartanwiththeirjavelins, the chariotcollision,ishealthyenoughtoparticipateinnextday’sevent, mood ofdarkviolencethroughoutplaintiffs’works. temporarily heighten thetensionofstory.However,theyfallshortestablishingapervasive e.g. race includesanintentionalcollisionandthatthejavelinthrowisaimed atacaptiveSpartan. extremely violenteventsinplaintiffs’works.Plai with images ofWorld War IIandVietnam. MergedScriptat1,4,45. suicide, repeatedlyreferences Kratos’smemories of andguiltoverhispastviolentdeeds,ends light-hearted orcomic moments inthegame. Indeed, thegame beginswithKratosattempting Owen at19(“Theentertainingpolevaultcompetition proceedswithdrama, comedy, andmishap.”). pleases him. . . [Meanwhile,]corpulentMedeacomes upbehindCamden andpincheshisbutt.”); staring atabeautifulgirl;“MercantenoticestheattractionbetweenAriaandOwen.Itamuses and at92-95—notadecisiononewouldexpectfrom Kratos. Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page17of27 , Olympiad at80,90.Suchelements arenotsurp E. Both storiesaresetinancientandmythical Greece,includingscenesinAthens andonMount At oralargument, plaintiffs’counselrepres In contrast,themood of

Olympiad at50-104 God ofWar Settings God ofWar and twoofplaintiffs’works,“Owen”“Theseus,”alsoincludescenesset . God ofWar with God ofWar MergedScriptat47-50.Plaintiffs’worksalsoinclude scenesin includes scenessetonbluffsoverlookingtheAegean Sea, plaintiffs’ works—e.g.,approximately halfof is darkandextremely violent.Therearevirtuallyno 17 God ofWar ntiffs’ counselnoted,forexample, thatthechariot ented thattheOlympic Games aredepictedas Furthermore, theprotagonist,thoughinjuredin rising inanaction-adventurescriptandserveto only intwoshortbonusscenes. id. at88-89,andthe See, United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 in thedesert only onesentenceof“Owen,”whereasasignificant portionoftheactionin plaintiffs ordefendants,andameadow isnotadesert Merged Scriptat18.Theconceptofcharactersencountering lostsoulsishardlyoriginaltoeither of LostSouls,throughwhichthetitanChronoscraw meadows thatcontainlost soulswanderingaimlessly.” Owenat12. map. In“Owen,”theprotagonist andhisparty“proceedinlanddownaroad,passingthrough contains a“DesertofLostSouls.”Themeadow appearsonlyin“Owen”andontheaccompanying (“twice thesizeofaman”) statueswhile while notable differencesdistinguishthesetwodepicti mountain rangeisvisibleovertheirshouldersandlowcolumns standclosebehindthem. like godsstandintheopenairbesidearound,well-likestructure.Game Manualat3.Ajagged place asthenewgodofwar.MergedScriptat45.In of War “Olympiad A,”thepoolis“enormous” andnostatuesarementioned. meeting hall. Olympiad at12.In“Olympiad,” elevengoldenstatuesofthegodsfaceapoolwaterin dissimilar. Inplaintiffs’works,ameeting hallofthegodsislocatedonMountOlympus. Lost Souls,andinAthens. several locations,thebulkofactionappearstooccurinsidePandora’sTemple intheDesertof stories involvingancientGreeceandGreekgods. establish some similarity betweentheworksatissue,thesesettingsaregenericandclichédfor Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page18of27 God ofWar , MountOlympus ismerely glimpsed atthetopofstairsKratosmust climb totakehis Plaintiffs alsonotethattheirworksc While thesharedsettingsofGreece,Athens,MountOlympus, Sparta,andtheUnderworlddo Contrary toplaintiffs’assertion,therespectivedepictionsofMountOlympus arealso . 12 Id.

The“fleshandblood”gods“morph” outofthesestatues. ’s isoutdoors;andplaintiffs’poollargeenoughtobefacedbyeleven God ofWar ontain a“MeadowofLostSouls”while ons ofMountOlympus: plaintiffs’settingisindoors 18 While theaction in ls withPandora’sTemple chainedtohisback. ’s . Itisnotablethatthemeadow isreferencedin

well-like structureisquitesmall. God ofWar 11 God ofWar God ofWar game manual, threehuman- Olympiad Aat13.In God ofWar Id. at12-13.In features aDesert is spreadover God ofWar takes place Id. See Two God United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 the gods,andmythical beastssuchastheHydra ortheNemean Lion unprotectable elements. Greekgods,dialoguesamong them aboutmortal affairs,rivalries among particularly important for thecourttouseitsown“Bladesof Chaos”tosliceorfilter outthe movies andvideogames, butalsooftheWestern collectiveunconscious.Insuchacase, itis gods likeAres,ZeusandAthena.Thesearestoc presented inalinearfashionasplaintiffs’works. In addition,thestorylineispiecedtogetherthroughrepeatedanddisorderedflashbacksratherthan surprising inaviolentvideogame andisnotread any lullsintheactionotherthanthosecausedbyanoviceplayer.Suchfastpaceishardly is drivenatleastinpartbytheindividualplayer.Thegame isgenerallyverypast-pacedwithfewif his sidekickdrinkandjokeaboutgirls. on Athensandtheargument among thegods are followedbyasceneinwhichtheprotagonistand scenes areinterspersedwithof levity.Forinstance,scenesfeaturing theinitialSpartanattack Although thebottom isnotvisible,therenoindicationthatthevoid however, simply showsaropebridgespanningwidegap. God ofWar Bottomless ValleyandFieryLake.”Owenat12.Plaintiffsassertthatthe“Bottomless Chasm” in sentence. In“Owen,”“satyrstaketheircaptives,uptheStepstoUnderworld,past Valley appearsonlyin“Owen”andtheaccompanying map, anditisreferencedinonlyone allegedly containsasimilar “Bottomless Chasm.” LiketheMeadowofLostSouls,Bottomless Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page19of27 .Pace F. Plaintiffs alsonotethattheirworkscontaina“Bottomless Valley”andassertthat Notably, some ofthecharacters thatplaintiffsallegetobesimilar acrossthestoriesareGreek G. Plaintiffs’ worksarerelativelyfast-pacedaction-adventureepicsinwhichhigh-tension appears Characters

just beforePandora’sTemple. Thescreenimage providedbyplaintiffs, Olympiad at4-16. k figuresnotonlyofmany contemporary stories, 19 ily indicativeofanycopyingplaintiffs’works. God ofWar See Bissoon-DathDec.,Exh.6at2. 14 areunprotectableelements; it is avideogame, anditspace bottomless . 13

God ofWar United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 “dark secretinvolvingthe ruthlessslaughterofhisfamily.” be ‘saved’by”Kratos. reviled bymost individualsheencounters. A tra See chained tohisforearms. pale ashes.JaffeDec.¶16;JacobsOpp.Dec.,Exh. 14(Game Guide)at3.Healsohaslargeblades various tasksfortheothergods. Later, heledforcesinconquestasdesiredbyAres. professional military officer—aSpartancaptainwhorosetoleadentirearmies. MergedScriptat15. by hisparents’ridicule.Owenat16;Theseus24-25. is plaguedbyself-doubtcausedeitherhisfailureat A.” Olympiad at20;Olympiad Aat22.In“Owen” a greatsecretintheprotagonist’spast,butisneverrevealed“Olympiad” or“Olympiad to leaveenemies merely unconsciousratherthan dead. generally non-violentandkind,as incapable ofcoldcalculationwithoutregardforjustice.” personifying theOlympic spirit,andasfaircompassionate. handsome, thekindofguytheymodel statuesafter.”Olympiad at15.Zeusdescribeshim as generally describedasyoungandhandsome. A at20-21;Owen8;Theseus9.Thoughhisa Ares, a“Spartancommander” andZeus. naming ofastronomical bodiesandspacecraft,inotherfields. is uncontroversialthattheyhavebeenusedwidelyinbothancientandmodern artisticworks,inthe Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page20of27 , e.g. The protagonistin The protagonistinplaintiffs’worksisasheephe In arguingtheircase,plaintiffsfocusonpurpor , MergedScriptat11(Kratoskillsacivilianimpeding hisway).Kratosisatragicfigure 1. The Protagonist MergedScriptat2.Plaintiffscl Id. God ofWar Kratosisdisturbinglypronetoviolenceanddoes nothesitatetokill. Id. illustrated byhisrefusal to the killNemean Lionandtendency at4.Kratosisbald,muscular andcovered inredtattoosand , Kratos,isstrikinglydifferent.Kratoswasformerly a 15

In “Olympiad,” heisdescribedas“[a]thletic, pped fisherman, forinstance,“wouldratherdiethan 20 ttributes varyslightlyamong theworks,heis Id. and“Theseus,”thesecretisthatprotagonist ageeighttoprotecthisfamily from banditsor ted similarities pertainingtotheprotagonist, at29.AfterrejectingAres,Kratosundertook rder andathlete.Olympiad at19;Olympiad See id. aim thatKratos,likeTheseus,harbors Id. See at 20.Plaintiffs’protagonistis at 28,36,47.Plaintiffs’workshint Pl.’sOpp.at18.This Id. at19.Aresfindshim “fully a United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 assertions arelessthanaccurate. In Plaintiffs’ counselfurtherrepresentedthatsucha scenariohadneverbeforebeendescribed.These depict theSpartansasexclusivelyloyaltoAresand Aresasdetermined todestroyAthens. in plaintiffs’works. mythical beastsin has noaffiliation withSpartain Game Manualat3.OtherthanhavingonceacceptedtheSpartanKratos’spledgetoservehim, Ares Ares isintentondestroyingAthensbecauseita“festeringpitfilledwithflabbyaristocrats.” thick armor andwithlongredhairbeard.Game Guideat153.Thegame manual revealsthat plot ofplaintiffs’works,theSpartanl imprisoned inagildedcageforonehundredyears.Owenat20.Although Aresisimportant tothe Afterwards, AresquarrelswithZeusagain,temporarily incapacitateshim, andisultimately appears andattempts toimpede Zeusas appear againin“Olympiad,” “Olympiad A”or“T 14, 50-51.AfterfirstarguingwithZeusandthenspeakingtheSpartanleaders,Aresdoesnot Spartan leaders,whoworshiphim, toattackAthe threatens torebelagainstZeusifheinsistsonforcingpeacethemortal worldandordersthe depicted asagiantman whocanmorph intoanequallygiantcobra.Olympiad at12,14.Ares unprotectable levelofabstraction. members issomehow involvedinbothstories,anelement whichisbothclichédandarticulatedatan to protecthisparentsfrom murderous bandits.Theonlysimilarity isthatthemurder offamily between agrownwarrior’spersonalslaughterofhiswifeandchildaneight-year-old’sinability mischaracterizes Kratos’swell-knownpersonalhistory asasecretanderroneouslyassertssimilarity Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page21of27 At oralargument, plaintiffs’counselre In Both plaintiffs’worksand God ofWar .Ares 2. God ofWar MergedScriptat6-7;Olympiad at50-51. , Aresistheantagonistwhom Kratosmust defeat.Aresisdepictedwearing , incontrasttoAresmerely tellinghisloyalSpartanstoattackthecity God ofWar God ofWar God ofWar eaders, notAres,arethechiefantagonists. the latterdescendstoOlympic stadium. Owenat19. . ArespersonallyattacksAthenswithanarmy of presented thatbothplaintiffs’worksand feature thegodAres.Inplaintiffs’works,Aresis ,

21 ns whilehostingtheOlympic Games. Olympiad at only oneSpartan,Kratos, isdepictedasbeingloyal heseus.” Attheendof“Owen,”Aresbriefly God ofWar United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Athens “encroachingonthestepsofMountOlympus Ares’s impending attack onAthens,Zeusshushesth to savethecity,notZeus good. Andforours.” Athens inthatscene;hehas“otherworries,”na “marshalling hisforces.” Game Manualat3.Secondly, Zeusexpressesabsolutelynoconcernfor gods gatherinthe accurately describeplaintiffs’works,theyfailto among thegods,requiringselectionofamortal champion. War intervene intheconflicttosaveAthens.”Pl.’ impending destruction ofAthensinasecondattackbyanarmy inservicetoAresandasseeking character ofaviolentvideogame as“brutish.” Furthermore, itishardlyoriginal to describeeitherascheming generalbentonwar or themain in thecontemporary Commander throughout War commanders. Yetplaintiffscompare theirantagonistSpartancommander, Gaylon,with being exclusivelyloyaltoAres,andevenKratosservesothergodsthroughoutthegame. See id. saving hislife,Kratosservesanumber ofdiffere to Aresandthenforonlyashorttime. Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page22of27 , theirworksalldepictZeusasworriedaboutthenegativeconsequencesforOlympus ofawar ’s protagonist,Kratos.Moreover,plaintiffs at1;Game Manualat3.Nowherein Plaintiffs alsoassertthatboththeirworksand Plaintiffs claim thatbothstoriesdepict .Zeus 4. 3. God ofWar God ofWar The SpartanCommander Id. God ofWar . MergedScriptat4-5.When AresandAthenaexchangesharpwordsover In God ofWar game manual, Athenshasyettobeattacked:Ares ismerely storyline isasailor-for-hiretothegods.MergedScriptat4,15. . Infact,Kratoswas“[o]nceacaptainintheSpartanarmy” but See , itisAthena,thepatrongoddessofAthens,who intervenes Merged Scriptat23.AfterservingAresinexchangefor God ofWar s Opp.at19.Plaintiffsfurtherclaim that,like mely thatKratos“may growtoostrong forhisown Zeus as“beinggravelyconcernedaboutthe incorrectly suggestthatKratosisaSpartan nt godsandclaims Athenaashispatrongoddess. 22 e pairandsayshedoesnotwantAres’swaron .” Game Manualat3.Thereisnofurther God ofWar are theSpartans,asapeople,depicted Id. While thesestatements include “brutish”Spartan God ofWar . Firstly,whenthe Godof God of United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 with thegod. past, therejectionoccurredtenyearsbefore 15. Thirdly,KratosdoesnotrenounceAresinone- Merged Scriptat37.Secondly,Kratosisnot saved by one battle.”Pl.’sOpp.at23.Thisassertionis commander whowasonceloyalexclusivelytoAresbut renouncesAresinaclimatic [sic]one-on- Script at4,32,37. the game andhascompleted hisconquestofthecitywhenKratosarrivestodefeathim. Merged storyline beginsin Athens (notretreating)whenthegodsmeet todiscussKratos.Game Manualat3.Oncethe According tothe while theOlympic Games areinprogressSparta,butAthensisnotconquered. water onMountOlympus. when repulsedbythecity’sforces.Olympiad at Kratos battlingaHydraatPoseidon’s the rocksbelow(andpresumably hisdeath),thestoryjumps threeweeksintothepasttodepict ultimately bethesecond-to-lastscene;inthisscene,Kratosjumps offacliff.BeforeKratosreaches repeatedly andistoldlargelythroughflashbacks.Forinstance, occurring oneafteranotherinlogicalsequence. works and in discussion byZeusin God ofWar Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page23of27 .SequenceofEvents H. Plaintiffs assertthatinbothstories“Ath Plaintiffs’ worksbeginwiththeSpartansa There arealsosignificantdifferencesintherespectivesequencesofeventsplaintiffs’ anyone God ofWar Id. does Zeuschooseamortal champion. in God ofWar at 1,31.Fourthly,in“Theseus,” theonlyoneofplaintiffs’worksinwhich a God ofWar God ofWar God ofWar . Plaintiffs’ worksarealltoldinalinear,narrativefashion withscenes Id. game manual, Ares(nottheSpartans)ispreparinghisforcestoattack at12.TheSpartanarmy returnsthenextyearandattacksAthens , AresisactivelyattackingAthens;hecontinuestodosoformost of ; thecityisconqueredand“liesinruins”before Kratos fightsAres. about anynegativeconsequencestoOlympus. Thirdly,nowhere behest. MergedScriptat1-2. God ofWar aSpartancommander whenhefights Ares. misleading inseveralways.Firstly,Athensisnot ens issavedfrom destructionbyaSpartan The storyin 4-12. Theretreatingarmy isvisibleinapoolof 23 ttacking Athens,thenretreatingforthewinter on-one battle;althoughherejectedAresinthe ’s

action andinvolvednopersonalcombat God ofWar God ofWar , incontrast,jumps around opens withwhatwill Id. at81,104. Id . at4, United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 I.OtherClaims III. any ofplaintiffs’works. dissimilar. 294 F.3dat1074.Here,thesequencesofelements, andtherelationships betweenthem, areentirely strings asignificantnumber ofunprotectable elements canitselfbeaprotectableelement. artistic worksfor years,if notmillennia. Asnoted,theparticularsequence inwhichanauthor the elements comprising plaintiffs’ worksarestockelements thathavebeenusedinliteraryand forever thecommon propertyofartisticmankind.” own thebasicideaforastory.Generalplotideas between theplotsatanextremely generalizedlevel.Yet,asthatcourtadmonished, “Noonecan suggest actualcopying.Asin access. Plaintiffshavepointedtonopersuasive similarity thanwouldberequiredtoovercome summary judgment, evenifplaintiffshadproven pace, charactersandsequenceofevents clichéd andunprotectedelements. availing. Totheextentthatplaintiffsaccuratelyportraysimilarities, thosesimilarities referto only intheepilogue. adjective “clima[c]tic” isbeliedbythefact thattheone-on-onebattlewithColonelisreferenced affinity forAres,butrevealsnoexclusiveloyaltyofhisowntothegod. Athens. Theseusat6,23-24,42-43.Fifthly,the orders theguardtoseizeDictator,andlaterdefeatsSpartanColonelinone-on-onecombat at Guard Captainwhodecidesthatjusticeandfreedom While theworkfeaturesaSpartanGeneralandDictator,itispreviouslysilentRoyal Spartan leaderbetraysArestorescueAthens,nocharacterisreferredasa“commander.” Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page24of27 .Summary An examination ofarticulablesimilarities betweentheplot,themes, dialogue,mood, settings, I. Plaintiffs’ othercontentionsregardingthestories’respectivesequencesofeventsarenomore 16 Noreasonabletrieroffactcouldconcludethat Id. at 43. Berkic v.Crichton God ofWar similarity indialogueornarrationthatwould , 761F.2dat293,thereissome degreeofsimilarity Royal GuardCaptainspeaksoftheDictator’s 24 are notprotectedbycopyrightlaw;theyremain Id. have toolongbeensacrificedinAres’sname, Thisisparticularlytruewhenvirtuallyallof and plaintiffs’worksrevealsfarless God ofWar is substantiallysimilar to Id. at42.Sixthly,the Metcalf , United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 CONCLUSION Accordingly, thesection17200claim must bedismissed. unfair businesspracticeunrelatedtoinfringement Opp. at24n.9.Thecomplaint makes allegationspe Rule 56(f),[plaintiffs]donotbelievetheirsecti unlawful businesspracticesseparatefrom andunrel section 17200claim, plaintiffsassertthat“additionaldiscoverywillrevealevidenceofunfairand ae:Mrh5 00 Dated: March5,2010 Judgment shallbeenteredaccordingly. Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page25of27 Plaintiffs’ contributoryinfringement claim falls IT ISSOORDERED. For theforegoingreasons,defendants’motion forsummary judgment isGRANTED. on 17200claim shouldbedeemed preempted.” Pl.’s 25 hasnotbeenpledandispurelyhypothetical. ated toinfringement, andtherefore,pursuantto rtaining onlytocopyrightinfringement. Any withitsinfringement claim. Astothe Northern DistrictofCalifornia United StatesDistrictCourtJudge MARILYN HALLPATEL United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Aegean Sea,Olympus, and “ZeusMoutain,”noneofwhichappearontheDath map. none ofthesefeatures.The a“3HeadedDog,”“Bottoml Cliffs,” noted ontheDathmap area“TunneltotheUnderworld,”“Fiery Lake,”“PoppyFields,”“Blackened map isnot.Prominent intheDathmap arelargerivers;the about themaps otherthantheuseoftreesand No. 76(BullochDec.).Asidefrom thatelement, Bulloch doesnotcontradictthistestimony in hi Apollonius ofRhodesinthethirdcenturyB.C. the storyof sirensinaDesert of Lost Souls isderivedfrom talesasre-packagedby oldArgonautic the “MeadowofLostSouls”/“DesertSouls” Plaintiffs alsoallegedefendantsdevelopedthemap includedin drawn byDath.Thisclaim iswhollywithoutmerit. 12. References tothetwo“stories”inthisdiscussiondenotecomparisons between 8. Atvariouspointsintheanalysisbelowc works to ideas orotherelements notprotectedunderthecopyri 7. account forthemarked dissimilarities between plaintiffs’worksand embodied donot arenotedbelowasappropriate.Thecourtfindsthatthedifferencesinmedia Plaintiffs statedatoralargument thatso were copiedfrom theformer. Thecharacteristic War 6. guidelines concerninglengthsofbriefsmust befollowed,however. Thecourtdoesnotintendtodisapprovegenerallyof relationships among complex issues,andattorneyss Awell-designedchartcanbeextremely helpfulinclarifyingthe would behelpfulandappropriate. 5. There isnochallengetotheauthenticityof th authority ofthetreatisebyjudicialnotice. 4. Theaccusedworkisthe both parties. by video game containingalldialogueaswellbackgroundnotes,andithasbeenextensively cited 3. AlongwithdefendantJaffe,MarianneKrawcz credited withwriting 2. Plaintiff JenniferBarrette-Herzogaversthatsh Docket No.85¶3. 1. .Plaintiffsdonotclaim that 9. plaintiffs’ worksasawhole. 11. Thereisnodialogueinthe“Theseus”and“Owen”treatments. 10. Docket No.78at6:3-4. Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page26of27 could arisemerely becausethelatter isavideogame Mount Olympus isnotdescribedin“Theseus”or“Owen.” God ofWar is notaclosequestion,itunnecessarytosetoutanexhaustivefilteringanalysis. God ofWar God ofWar God ofWar . BeckerDec.¶7. looking throughapoolofwateris ess Valley,”and“BentTree Port.”The includesseveralrealand fictionallocations,e.g.,Athens,the ENDNOTES video game itself.The“merge mountains. TheDathmap isofanisland;the See s point-by-pointreplytotheMartinReport. me dissimilarities betweenplaintiffs’ worksand 26 DocketNo.47-1(MartinReport).Plaintiffs’expert s of the respectivemedias ofthe there isliterallynothingelsesubstantiallysimilar Thereispreciselyoneelement withanysimilarity: hould notbediscouragedfrom includingsuch.The ourt pointsoutwhensimilarities aregeneralplot e Hamilton excerpts,andthecourtestablishes element. Defendants’ expertMartintestifies that ght laws.Becausethedissimilarity ofplaintiffs’ e changedhername toJenniferB.Dathin2008. yk, AlexanderSteinandKeithFayhavebeen ratherthanamovie script,evenifthelatter theuseofchartsinbriefingwheresuch God of War War God of See God ofWar itself aprotectableelement. God ofWar Theseus at9;Owen9. map hasnone.Thefeatures map d script”isascriptforthe in whichtheworksare God ofWar . by copyingthemap God ofWar God ofWar See map has Godof Docket and See United States District Court For the Northern District of California 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 had beenincirculationatthattime. featuring Greekmythological elements havingso the centerofentertainment industry,itwouldha Opp. at16.Asdiscussedabove,thesearenotthesame elements appearedsimultaneously intheWestside rhetoricalflourish,plaintiffs’counsel With can explainhowinthousandsofyearsstories 16. rather, a appears.” impending destructionbeforeanenormous pool of at theirMountOlympus home, asthearmy ofAresreadiesitsattackonAthens,toconferaboutthe assertion: “BoththeDathWorks and human twins.Some ofthedescriptionsplainti isinbedwith he Secondly, priortogoingondeck,Kratosisnotinbedwithtwosleepingnymphs; to thedeckofhisship.Thereheaccostsastat Athena doesnotappeartoKratoswhileheisin he isinbed,withtwosleepingnymphs, tobestowthequestuponchampion.” Bulloch states,“In War ceased beingbothaSpartancaptainandloyaltoAr does killAres,butonlyafter theconquestanddestructionof Athensiscomplete. Secondly,Kratos Athens isdestroyedin in defeatingAres’aims ofdestroyingAthens.” works, “aSpartancaptainwhowasoncefiercelyloyal Plaintiff’sexpertBulloch’sexegesisofthest thoroughness withwhichhewasabletoexamine 15. ThefirstlaborofHeracleswastoslaytheNe 14. DefendantJaffetestifiedthatthebridgein on whosebackthetemple ischained.JaffeDec.¶22; 13. Case 3:08-cv-01235-SCDocument133Filed03/09/10Page27of . HisrejectionofAresthuso Spartan Id. at13.Inplaintiffs’works, army is God ofWar God ofWar retreating , itisAthena,agoddesswithmagical powers,whoappearstoKratosas ccurred wellbeforeAresattackedAthens.Totakeanotherexample, . KratosthusdoesnotdefeatAr in defeatfrom Athensandreturninghome forthewinter. God ofWar noarmy ofAresisreadying bed; rather,heisawakenedbynightmares andgoesup ffs’ worksarealsoincorrect,forinstancethefollowing ue of Athena, through which Athena speaks tohim. speaks ue ofAthena,throughwhichAthena me superficialsimilarity towhatbecame Greekmythology, thesame uniqueandoriginalstory God ofWar depict asceneinwhichthegodsaresaidtoassemble 27 God ofWar Docket No. 76-1 (Bulloch Report) at 11. Firstly , Docket No.76-1(BullochReport)at11.Firstly mean Lion,whoseskinwasimpenetrable toarrows. of LosAngelesinlate2002andearly2003.”Pl.’s water inwhichtheimage ofaSpartanCommander argues, “Neithercoincidencenorcommon source ories containsseveralerrorscastingintodoubtthe es at least ten years prior to the events in in es atleasttenyearspriortotheevents ve beenextraordinarilysurprisingifnoscript see to Areslaterturnsonandisinstrumental stories. Inviewofth MergedScriptat18. . Forinstance,Bullochstatesthatinboth spans acrevasseinthebackofTitan es’s aim ofdestroyingAthens.He for battlewhenthegodsgather; e factthatLosAngelesis Id. at14.Firstly, God ofWar God of