Xfire sues IGN over communication software

Xfire is suing IGN Entertainment over communication technology its says infringes on its popular PC software.

Xfire claims that IGN Entertainment's GameSpy Comrade, which uses a feature labelled Buddy Sync to retrieve information from instant messaging programs, could do irreparable harm to the company by infringing on copyright, stealing users and disclosing trade secrets.

The suit was filed the day before the release of Electronic Arts' PC title Battlefield 2142, which includes a copy of the Comrade program on the disc.

"Xfire's case is clearly a thinly veiled attempt to hijack Electronic Arts' release of Battlefield 2142, after EA decided to incorporate IGN's Comrade program in Battlefield 2142 instead of [Xfire]," said IGN.

After EA's senior product manager Richard Biggs told a US court that he estimated any delay to the game would reduce sales "by at least a half," district court judge Susan Illston denied a restraining order to halt the release of the game.

However, Illston did note that serious questions are raised within the lawsuit, which continues.