Major video game companies sue online pirates

Major video game companies sue online pirates
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Video game manufacturers have signaled "Game Over" for some alleged software pirates accused of distributing unauthorized copies of everything from Pac-Man to Donkey Kong.

The suit was filed Monday in federal court by 12 video game companies accusing four men it claims offered pirated versions of hundreds of entertainment software products over the Internet.

The complaints seek injunctions to shut down the Web sites run by Dasheill Ponce De Leon of Houston, John Sterling of Beaumont, Texas, Byron Beck of Monrovia, Calif., and Kuei Lin Lo of Amherst, Mass. The suit also seeks monetary damages that could reach $150,000 for each copyrighted work infringed.

While some believe there are no victims from piracy, they´re wrong,said Doug Lowenstein, president of the Interactive Digital Software Association, a trade group representing the entertainment software industry. A video game is increasingly expensive to develop and each title involves the hard work of numerous individuals.

Plaintiffs in the case seeking damages include Activision Inc., LucasArts, Electronic Arts, Microsoft, Midway Amusement Games and Capcom Entertainment

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