AppWizard
November 18, 2024
In 2002, Valve sued Sierra Entertainment to clarify licensing terms for Counter-Strike distribution in cyber cafes. The lawsuit escalated as Vivendi counterclaimed against Valve, attempting to financially undermine the small developer. Gabe Newell, Valve's co-founder, faced significant personal financial strain due to the legal battle. Vivendi overwhelmed Valve with legal documents, many in Korean, requiring additional resources to manage. An intern named Andrew, a native Korean speaker, discovered evidence that Vivendi was destroying pertinent evidence. This finding shifted the case in Valve's favor, leading to a court ruling that granted Valve rights to the Half-Life and Counter-Strike franchises, reimbursed their legal expenses, and terminated Vivendi's cyber cafe agreement. This outcome allowed Valve to launch Steam, which grew into the largest digital distribution platform in gaming.
