Lawyers drop case against Google over SuperPoke Pets

A law firm which had been collecting complaints from players of Slide's SuperPoke Pets, shut down by Google after it acquired the developer and dissolved it, has decided to abandon the pursuit of the case, telling claimants that it was unlikely to succeed.

Class-action specialists Freed & Weiss have decided against taking the search giant to court as the partnership believes that the terms and conditions of the contract between players and Slide, and consequentially now Google, render the action legally acceptable, reports All things D.

"We have appreciated hearing from many of you and, while this is unfair and unjust, there are just some situations where there is not a likelihood of recovery in the U.S. Court system and we have found that to be the case here," read a statement from the law firm.

Google acquired Slide in August for $182 million, dissolving the company shortly afterwards, releasing company founder Max Levchin and phasing out the company's apps.

One of those apps was SuperPoke Pets, a virtual pet simulator which allowed customers to spend money on accessories and other in-game purchases. Users had argued that Google's closure of the game infringed their rights, having invested money and time into the venture.

As well as being covered by the terms of service, Google had also offered to run and maintain a new app called SPP Lite, which would enable players to ensure the continued existence of their digital dependants.