Take-Two sues over yanked 'GTA IV' ads

The publisher of the Grand Theft Auto video game franchise feels like it got ripped off in Chicago--and it's suing.

Take-Two wants ads for "Grand Theft Auto IV" replaced on CTA buses and display spaces.

(Credit: Rockstar Games)

Take-Two Interactive Software sued the Chicago Transit Authority on Monday for allegedly pulling its ads promoting the latest version of the action-driving and crime game just days after the ads began appearing, thus violating its free-speech and contractual rights, according to a Reuters report.

The suit, which was filed in Manhattan federal court, seeks reinstatement of the ads on buses and display spaces, as well as monetary damages of at least $300,000, the reported value of the contract, according to the report.

The suit claims that ads for the game, which has been criticized as excessively violent, were removed after a television news report questioned why the advertisements were allowed to run following a crime wave in the city, according to the report.

This is not the first time the CTA has come under fire for GTA ads. In 2004, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich criticized the transit authority for agreeing to run ads for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, leading the CTA to remove the ads, according to a report in the Chicago Tribune.

Take-Two hasn't yet released the game's first-week sales figures, but analysts are expecting sales to top last year's record $300 million first-week sales of Halo 3. The game is expected to sell more than 9 million copies.

[open-mind]

Free Speach My Butt

IMHO, this has *nothing* to do with free speech.

Clearly the CTA should refund their money if they canceled the contract and yanked the ads.

[open-mind]

"Speech" that is.

nt

[Leria]

This has a lot to do with free speech

In that cities allow a lot of people to advertise on their transportation who they might not agree with.

Take-Two has a good case for free speech infringement, and for breaking of a contract.

[sanenazok]

Sue them to 'ell

I live in Chicago and don't exactly hold CTA in high esteem. It's a lovely dumping ground for politicians, especially if a given employee is too limited to work in city hall, or the county "administration." I would rather take a kidnap-taxi in Mexico City than parts of the blue line using 50 year old tracks with zero actual maintenance.

I guess the CTA communicated with Take Two about as well as it communicated with its riders during a recent accident (which is not very well at all).

See: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-cta-delays-webapr16,0,1530520.story