Bobby Kotick Sues Kotaku and Gizmodo in Defamation Lawsuit
For many gamers who grew up playing games in the 2000s and 2010s, the name Bobby Kotick is familiar. During his time as CEO of Activision, he was often portrayed as a polarizing figure in the gaming world. Now, more than a year and a half after leaving his CEO position, Kotick is again making headlines. This time, it is due to filing a lawsuit against media outlets.
Bobby Kotick Suing Kotaku and Gizmodo
Recent Delaware State Court filings confirm that Bobby Kotick has sued G/O Media, the parent company of popular sites Gizmodo and Kotaku. While the court records are not yet public, Courthouse News reports Kotick is asking for damages "in an amount to be determined by the court."
False Reporting Charges
The lawsuit follows Kotaku and Gizmodo reports about an Activision Blizzard investigation by the US Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. Lawyers for Bobby Kotick argue that the reports disseminated falsehoods and "withdrawn, false claims" about complaints made in Activision Blizzard workplaces. Representatives for Kotick contend that G/O Media was aware of investigators retracting the allegations, yet still published them.
The core of Kotick's grievance is that the articles were a deliberate attempt to damage his reputation as CEO of Activision. His lawyers assert that they consistently requested G/O Media to correct and withdraw these articles. These requests were apparently ignored.
This litigation is a notable move by the former Activision chief. He resurfaces from public life, not as a business leader, but as a litigant. This is a high-profile defamation case against major media conglomerates in the video gaming world.
