Grand Theft Auto 4 maker sues Chicago transport chiefs

[johnnymk]

http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/05/06/take_two_sues_chicago_ta/

Take-Two Interactive is suing the Chicago Transit Authority after the metropolitan transportation organisation removed a series of Grand Theft Auto 4 ads from the city's bus shelters.

The posters went up across the city on 22 April, the result of a $300,000 deal struck between Take-Two, and the CTA and its ad agency, Titan Outdoor, the games publisher said. Within days, it claimed, all the ads had been taken down.

The publisher, which filed its lawsuit in Liberty City New York rather than Chicago, wants its $300,000 back and the CTA to be forced to re-run the ads.

Quite apart from the alleged violation of its contract with the CTA, Take-Two maintains its right to free speech was violated, the Reuters news agency reports.

The CTA has yet to comment on the case, but it's been reported that the ads were yanked after a local TV news station criticised the Authority for accepting posters promoting a game featuring vehicle theft and drive-by shootings - all of which have been a particular problem in Chicago of late, it seems.

Not that the ads appear to show such behaviour, focusing instead on the game's characters

[Jah Rulez]

I think crime in Chicago goes back a few years....don't think car theft and drive bys are new. They have at minimum 3 large gang sets there.

[VTGreg]

I think crime in Chicago goes back a few years....don't think car theft and drive bys are new. They have at minimum 3 large gang sets there.

That is very true but there has been a huge surge in violence in Chicago in the past few weeks. While a video game is not likely to impact that, the media is going to look at every angle and scrutinize accordingly. They've got to keep the viewers coming back for something.

[Thesifer]

Bottom line is, If you don't want to put up the Ads, don't make the deal. And if you make the deal and want to back out afterwards, do it properly. Simple enough. Take-Two has every right to sue for their money back. Although if they get it back, I don't see a reason for the CTA to have to run the ads at all.

[Nija]

I've never heard of Liberty City New York. Where might I find this fantastic new city?

[Thesifer]

I believe they "fixed" the article. Any other articles to go with this one? Or is it all a hoax?

[Maarchk]

I've never heard of Liberty City New York. Where might I find this fantastic new city?

I believe it's right next to Metropolis.

[mojo]

I think crime in Chicago goes back a few years....don't think car theft and drive bys are new. They have at minimum 3 large gang sets there.
i dunno. i heard al capone was way into GTA for its realism. but personally i think it made him more violent.