Pinkerton's suing Rockstar

[Ryan5252]

Based on this report from The Blast, a group known as Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations has sent a cease and desist letter to both Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive, believing that their Pinkerton Detective badge was used without permission in the hit sequel.

 

 

The company notes that it has been around for 165 years, and that “in the 1870’s the agency worked with law enforcement to apprehend famous criminals across the country.” That’s almost the opposite of the way they believe they come across in Red Dead 2, as they note that they are being “used as villains, hunting down the game’s protagonists.”

The letter indicates that the Pinkerton group is associated with the game, though they never gave an official say-so in doing so, and that it’s “likely to blur the distinctive character and tarnish the reputation of Pinkerton’s famous trademarks.”

 

However, Rockstar isn’t backing down, and has already headed to federal court with an injunction, as they believe that the use of the Pinkerton name is actually protected by the First Amendment.

 

 

In their retort, the company noted that the game is a “historically accurate videogame set in the Wild West in the late 1800’s,” and that “historical references are woven into the fabric of the game at every level.”

They also note, “The game’s reference to the historical Pinkerton National Detective Agency and its agents is but one of a myriad of ways that Red Dead 2 accurately portrays the historical Nineteenth Century American Landscape.”

 

The publisher also note that the Pinkertons aren’t actually used that often within the game, as there are only 10 of the 106 main missions that actually involve them.

 

Rockstar then added that they have “long been a staple in works of historical fiction about the Wild West” and even made mention of such works as HBO’s Deadwood and the film The Long Riders, as well as Elton John’s “Ballad of a Well-Known Gun.”

The judge hasn’t provided any remarks on this case yet, so this is definitely a wait-and-see matter. But it seems like Rockstar could likely be victorious, considering the usage of the Pinkerton name and the First Amendment. We’ll see how things go over the next few weeks.

 

The publisher also note that the Pinkertons aren’t actually used that often within the game, as there are only 10 of the 106 main missions that actually involve them.

 

Rockstar then added that they have “long been a staple in works of historical fiction about the Wild West” and even made mention of such works as HBO’s Deadwood and the film The Long Riders, as well as Elton John’s “Ballad of a Well-Known Gun.”

The judge hasn’t provided any remarks on this case yet, so this is definitely a wait-and-see matter. But it seems like Rockstar could likely be victorious, considering the usage of the Pinkerton name and the First Amendment. We’ll see how things go over the next few weeks.

The publisher also note that the Pinkertons aren’t actually used that often within the game, as there are only 10 of the 106 main missions that actually involve them.

Rockstar then added that they have “long been a staple in works of historical fiction about the Wild West” and even made mention of such works as HBO’s Deadwood and the film The Long Riders, as well as Elton John’s “Ballad of a Well-Known Gun.”

The judge hasn’t provided any remarks on this case yet, so this is definitely a wait-and-see matter. But it seems like Rockstar could likely be victorious, considering the usage of the Pinkerton name and the First Amendment. We’ll see how things go over the next few weeks.

 

https://comicbook.com/gaming/2019/01/14/red-dead-redemption-2-rockstar-games-pinkerton-lawsuit/
 

Edited January 15, 2019 by Ryan5252

[nicktestbranch]

Rockstar will reach an anticlimatic standstill, and agree to take out all the Pinkerton's hated game groups. After ending all major franchises in the world, Rockstar is able to live free in their Monopoly world, until Pinkerton comes to New York and takes the Housers down with an unlimited and unexpected artillery of law books. 

 

It's all over guys I'm so scared

[Guest Guest176525326]

After watching “Making a Murderer 1 & 2” Rockstar has a great chance of losing the lawsuit.

 

The US justice system is one of the worst of the modern era 

[Ryan5252]

6 minutes ago, O.Z said:

After watching “Making a Murderer 1 & 2” Rockstar has a great chance of losing the lawsuit.

 

The US justice system is one of the worst of the modern era 

R* have a plan. 

[John_Wade_007]

God Bless R*

1 minute ago, Ryan5252 said:

R* have a plan. 

Indeed.. m8

[Non Funkable Token]

They will not crush R*

[happygrowls]

A Mysterious Figure rides on the western sunset, before arriving at a forest.

A lone man sleeps next to a rock, before being kicked by an unknown figure.

Stranger: You got some gold bars for me boah? I seen your name in our users played

 

GTAFORUMS PRESENTS

 

Pinkerton: You're a wanted man Mr Houser.

 

Dan Houser: Maybe when your mothers finished mourning your fathers' bank account, I'll keep it in red, on your behalf.

 

RED HOUSER REDEMPTION II

 

Dan: We got Pinkertons in three different states after us, they chased us over the work hours, they chased us over the portrayal of Pinkertons.

 

Dan is robbing a GameStop, pushing the worker to the vault.

 

Dan: Open It!

 

Imran: We're gonna need an extra gun

 

Multiple Action Shots

 

Sam: This place... Ain't no such thing, as civilized.

 

More Action Shots of Dan wrestling with gamers and jorunalists.

 

Dan is holding a man against a fence

 

Dan: Where's our gold bars?

 

More action shots

 

Sam: Do you have my back?

 

Dan: Always, Sam.

 

Dan aims a weapon, cutting to the title, with a release date of in a few weeks or so.

[Smokewood]

The gang are the bad guys, so of course from their point of view the pinkertons are the opposition. 

[burger_mike]

2 hours ago, Smokewood said:

The gang are the bad guys, so of course from their point of view the pinkertons are the opposition. 

Nah i still say the pinkertons are bad

[Lonely-Martin]

#payoff

[Cutter De Blanc]

Are they gonna sue Deadwood and all of the other works of fiction that feature the Pinkertons as well?

[Spider-Vice]

This will amount to nothing and is completely ridiculous from the Pinkerton agency. This is only happening because RDR2 sold well.

[SM00V 0PERAT0R]

Right... I am sure there was absolutely ZERO corruption in the early pinkerton's detective agency. Definitely not in the era of bounty hunters and expansion on the wild west. No way corruption EVER existed back then...

That is what these idiots are bitching about, being portrayed as villians who hunted down the games protags (who guess what... just happened to be criminals).

Buncha money hungry bitches & salty bully HS drop-outs that became "law-men", now they need R* to pay their debts of an outdated and failing business.

3 hours ago, Fluffy Sock said:

They will not crush R*

no, but they may very well win a hefty lawsuit. Nobody who does this cares about crushing anyone. They care about getting paid even if it's a small amount, it's still a win in their book.

[Cutter De Blanc]

19 minutes ago, Spider-Vice said:

This will amount to nothing and is completely ridiculous from the Pinkerton agency. This is only happening because RDR2 sold well.

Good publicity for Red Dead 2 though.

 

Any publicity is good publicity

[Ingrobny]

1 hour ago, 3Prcntr said:

but they may very well win a hefty lawsuit.

I don't know, for me it sounds like they are after easy money:

 

"But rather than have the game removed from shelves, the group noted that they are “willing to discuss a lump sum figure” to settle the matter."

 

But Rockstar didn't want that:

 

However, Rockstar isn’t backing down, and has already headed to federal court with an injunction, as they believe that the use of the Pinkerton name is actually protected by the First Amendment.

 

6 hours ago, Ryan5252 said:

” That’s almost the opposite of the way they believe they come across in Red Dead 2, as they note that they are being “used as villains, hunting down the game’s protagonists.”

Sounds like they haven't played RDR2, because:

 

6 hours ago, Ryan5252 said:

“in the 1870’s the agency worked with law enforcement to apprehend famous criminals across the country.”

this is what Pinkertons do in RDR 2 and besides is set in the late 1890's and not in the 1870's.

Edited January 15, 2019 by Ingrobny

[Implicitly]

Pinkerton agency just wants to cash out just like Lindsay Lohan. It won't make it far in court.

[YoungMoney0991]

What a load of crap. Hopefully R* wins 

[DM the Pro]

Are these Pinkerton like the ones from the game?

[Bad Azz]

1 hour ago, DMThePro123 said:

Are these Pinkerton like the ones from the game?

They're probably worse. Lol. 

[Hondaslayer]

5 hours ago, Cutter De Blanc said:

Are they gonna sue Deadwood and all of the other works of fiction that feature the Pinkertons as well?

They didn't, so good luck now. They didn't protect their brand then (or the multiple other times it has been portrayed in film and media)

[Ryan5252]

"Zahran adds: ‘Among our employees are fathers and mothers who now have to explain to their young game players why Red Dead Redemption II encourages people to murder Pinkertons."

 

Such a transparent money grab. I'd be telling them to be more concerned the game is 18+ and perhaps "their young gamers" should be playing something more age appropriate. 

 

https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/16/rockstar-games-accused-misleading-real-life-pinkertons-respond-red-dead-redemption-ii-lawsuit-complaint-8349520/amp/

Edited January 16, 2019 by Ryan5252

[happygrowls]

2 minutes ago, Ryan5252 said:

"Zahran adds: ‘Among our employees are fathers and mothers who now have to explain to their young game players why Red Dead Redemption II encourages people to murder Pinkertons."

"Among our employees are fathers and mothers to pets, now having to explain why Red Dead Redemption II encourages people to hunt animals"

 

Good lord this is stupid. It's like saying GTA V is bad and is misleading because the cops are portrayed as overly aggressive assholes who abuse the law. That DEFINITELY never happens IRL right

[RJX74]

Man I thought R* were being excessive when they changed FBI & CIA to FIB &IAA. Apparently not.

 

Also I remember the Pinkertons were the bad guys in one of the Zorro movies.

[Raavi]

On 1/15/2019 at 3:48 PM, O.Z said:

After watching “Making a Murderer 1 & 2” Rockstar has a great chance of losing the lawsuit.

 

The US justice system is one of the worst of the modern era 

Criminal law and civil law are two completely different beasts. This lawsuit is about as frivolous as they come. Only second to the insane Lindsay Lohan lawsuit.

 

Sidenote: Don't take what you see in MaM as fact, as someone who knows a thing or two about law - most of it is really stupid and incredibly one-sided. Season 1 already was quite a stretch, but Season 2 is just a bad joke. From spurious blood spatter analysis to leaving out key inculpatory evidence. Absolute shambles.

[TheSantader25]

It wouldn't be a R* game without a lawsuit. It's pretty natural boys. Just another day in the office. 

[nicktestbranch]

3 hours ago, TheSantader25 said:

It wouldn't be a R* game without a lawsuit. It's pretty natural boys. Just another day in the office. 

They could do a game about menial office tasks and Fox/Disney would sue them on Mike Judge's behalf for ripping off office space and not real life. Mike judge wouldn't care but hey, lawsuits give organizations a lot of attention. Who here knew of the Pinkerton's before this came up?

Edited January 17, 2019 by Arthur Bell
Internet connection went bar, didn't want to sue myself for copying verbatim what I just said

[HOW'S ANNIE?]

Red Dead Redemption II: Pinkerton-friendly edition coming 2019

 

 

[Ondr4H]

In Housers minds...
Make game set in 19. century, they said.No problems, no lawsuit because they are all dead they said.

....

Well FBi to FiB, CIA to IAA but Pinkertons without fake name...How fool movement this is.

Edited January 17, 2019 by Ondr4H

[Darealbandicoot]

2 hours ago, HOW'S ANNIE? said:

Red Dead Redemption II: Pinkerton-friendly edition coming 2019

 

 

The word Pinkerton has been replaced by "The agency" and killing an agent causes a game over. Coming soon.... 

[DrKrankenstein]

22 hours ago, RJX74 said:

Man I thought R* were being excessive when they changed FBI & CIA to FIB &IAA. Apparently not.

 

Also I remember the Pinkertons were the bad guys in one of the Zorro movies.

they still are the bad guys , just browse a little in their history and power grab.