PopCap Loses $4.6 Million Lawsuit To MumboJumbo

Today it was announced by video game publisher MumboJumbo that they have won a $4.6 million settlement against PopCap. Fraud, business relationship interference, and breach of contract were cited as the reasons PopCap, the publishers of such casual classics as Peggle and Plants vs. Zombies, were brought to court.

“The law allows you to do plenty of things to be successful in business,” says Marty Rose, MumboJumbo’s representing attorney. “However, it does not allow you to commit fraud or interfere with a company’s business relationships. The jury’s verdict is a clear signal that this type of business conduct is not going to be tolerated.”

PopCap was brought court because of their misdoings regarding a 2006 agreement that contracted MumboJumbo to manufacture and distribute select PopCap games in the U.S. PopCap has been charged with damaging MumboJumbo’s relationship with a “key retailer” by use of “false and misleading statements.” With MumboJumbo’s reputation tarnished, PopCap then went behind the company’s back and began distributing games on their own.

Who would ever expect such shady dealings from a company with a squeaky-clean name like PopCap?