Legal conflict between Playdead co-founders: one of them is accused of copyright infringement
Playdead co-founder Dino Patti is at the centre of a legal dispute with his former partner Arnt Jensen. The studio, known for its cult games Limbo and Inside, is now in the spotlight again due to accusations of using intellectual property "without permission".
Here's What We Know
It all started after Patti posted on LinkedIn in late 2024. In this post, he described the Limbo development process in detail and posted a screenshot that Jensen claimed was his. Jensen has accused Patti of copyright infringement and is demanding compensation in the amount of $72,630.
The legal document states:
"Your use of Playdead's assets and disclosure of internal information about the game's development constitutes a breach of confidentiality and copyright. You are creating a false impression of your contribution to the creative process."
This is not the first time that the relationship between the two co-founders has been strained. In 2017, Patti left Playdead after a long-running dispute with Jensen over studio management and future projects. He then sold his stake for $7.2 million, but the conflict has been going on for nine years.
Patti claims that Jensen has repeatedly threatened him with legal action:
"Arnt, stop the harassment. I'm not going to erase my history. Without me, Playdead would not exist."
In response to Patti's accusations, the studio confirmed that it had filed a formal complaint:
"We are compelled to protect our trademarks and copyrights, which are the foundation of Playdead's business and reputation."
Dino Patti is now heading his own studio, Jumpship, which will release its debut game Somerville in 2022. Meanwhile, Playdead is working on a new project - a sci-fi game that promises to keep the studio's corporate identity. However, details are still very scarce.
Still, it's sad to see Patti's name being erased from the history of Playdead, which was at its origins.
Source: Game Developer
