Hinther v. Electronic Arts

San Diego County Superior Court, California

Case No.: 718593

Date Filed: 03/03/1998

Summary

Frustrated by downtime and bugs, a group of players sued Ultima Online game maker Electronic Arts, arguing that UO was a defective product and that the advertisement on the box was false and misleading. The case survived the defendants' initial objections, but was eventually dropped without public resolution.

"A Bug Too Far"

Aug. 19, 1998

by Janelle Brown

Salon 21st

Link

"IN ULTIMA ONLINE, FED-UP PLAYERS CARRY A CRUSADE FROM THE FANTASY WORLD INTO A REAL-LIFE COURTROOM.... A group of gamers thinks the Ultima bugs are so egregious that they're suing its publisher, Electronic Arts, for falsely advertising the game's features and releasing a defective product. " The suit was eventually dropped, per "Volunteer revolt," also by Janelle Brown, Sept. 21, 2000, on salon.com.

Docket Information

Case Title: HINTHER vs ELECTRONIC ARTS INC
Case Number: 718593
Case Location: San Diego
Case Type: Civil
Date Filed: 03/03/1998
Category: A60512 Negligence

Plaintiff/Petitioner
Last Name or Business Name First Name Primary (P)
HINTHER KEN P
ALLAN THEODORE
BENNETT ALLAN
BENSON SHANE
DANIELLE THOMAS
FLIPPING RANDALL
FLIPPING ROBERT
HOLMES KEVIN
JAFFE DAVID
KARHOFF PHILLIP
PELLETIER STEVE
ROY DENIS
ROYAL CARLOS
TRYON MIKE
WALDEN TOM
WILLIAMS MARK

Defendant/Respondent
Last Name or Business Name First Name Primary (P)
ELECTRONIC ARTS INC P
ORIGIN SYSTEMS INC

Microfilm
Microfilm ID Location Reel Number Frame Number
1 SD-OREC