OpTic Gaming, alongside other parties, has recently filed a lawsuit against Activision Blizzard, seeking a substantial $680 million in damages. The lawsuit alleges that since the inception of the Call of Duty League in 2020, Activision has maintained an anticompetitive monopoly over the Call of Duty esports scene. The filing claims that Activision exerts unlawful control over organizations in the space, wielding influence over almost every aspect of their operations.
Of note is Activision’s exorbitant entry fee of $27.5 million to join the Call of Duty League, a far cry from the more open structure under the COD World League. Activision’s shift to a franchise-based model has disappointed fans worldwide, and the cumulative dissatisfaction has culminated in a substantial lawsuit that could potentially cripple the CDL.
In what could arguably be the largest esports lawsuit in history, OpTic Gaming’s Seth ‘Scump’ Abner and Hector ‘H3CZ’ Rodriguez are leading the charge. While it remains unclear if other organization owners have joined the suit, it is widely believed that certain personalities will support the litigation efforts. The impact of this lawsuit is expected to be far-reaching, affecting every team in the Call of Duty League and potentially leading to its collapse.
Last year, the Overwatch League saw teams withdrawing, resulting in the demise of the ‘sister tournament’ to the CDL. While the Overwatch esports ecosystem has been revamped with a new structure, the future of the Call of Duty League hangs in the balance.
The lawsuit claims that Activision Blizzard enforces a strict and suffocating monopoly over the Call of Duty esports space, controlling sponsorship deals, inhibiting growth in an ‘anticompetitive’ manner, preventing CDL-signed entities from supporting or participating in tournaments outside the CDL, and threatening exclusion of employees who refuse last-minute changes.
Prepare for War
In response, Activision’s legal representatives have swiftly rebutted Abner and Rodriguez’s lawsuit, asserting that the claims have no factual or legal basis. They express disappointment at the disruption caused and pledge to vigorously defend against the lawsuit.
The lawsuit has already garnered support from the Call of Duty esports community, which has long been critical of the state of the premier tournament in the space. While the Call of Duty esports scene remains lucrative, its foundation in the CDL has weakened irreparably, leading to widespread discontent.
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