Over in the world of video gaming, two popular Call of Duty (CoD) pros are suing the game’s owner for its “monopolistic” hold over the esports scene.
Seth ‘Scump’ Abner and Hector ‘H3CZ’ Rodriguez have teamed up to take down Activision Blizzard Inc., arguing that the game developer has an “unlawful monopoly” over CoD esports through its Call of Duty League (CDL). According to Bloomberg Law, affected teams are seeking $680m in the lawsuit.
Activision has taken complete control over the market
Although Activision used to organize CoD leagues with multiple partners, including GameStop Corp., and Major League Gaming, the developer ended those relationships in 2019. Now, according to the lawsuit, Activision has taken complete control over the market, and is making it very difficult for the players.
Among the issues noted in the filing, the plaintiffs highlighted that Activision forced players to pay an “extortionate $27.5m” entry fee to compete in the CDL. The pair also took issue with Activision’s “exclusive right to contract with the most lucrative sponsors.” They claim this limits the amount that players can make through such deals.
Scump and H3CZ claim Activision prevents players from making money in other ways too. As per Activision rules, players who participate in the CDL can not play in other CoD leagues or tournaments. Players also aren’t able to monetize friendly competitions which have no impact on CDL standings.