NCSoft files suit against Kakao Games for alleged copyright infringement

A captured screen from a cinematic trailer of ArcheAge War game [SCREEN CAPTURE]

NCSoft filed a suit against Kakao Games and subsidiary XL Games for alleged copyright infringement of its Lineage 2M online game, the game publisher said Wednesday.

"We have found many similarities in the content and system in ArcheAge War, a game released by Kakao Games and XL Games on March 21, with our major title Lineage 2M," NCSoft said in a press release.

"We have discussed the matter with experts in and outside the company and decided to put forward a suit to protect our intellectual property [IP]."

ArcheAge War was released last month as Kakao Games' newest massively multiplayer online roleplaying game (MMORPG) available for cross-play on both PC and mobile. At the time it was anticipated to be one of the biggest titles from the game company this year.

The ArcheAge franchise was developed in 2013 by XL Games, a company acquired by Kakao Games in February 2020.

Ever since ArcheAge War was released to the public, users have been pointing out similarities between the game and NCSoft's Lineage 2M MMORPG, including the interface, in-game items, content and system.

"IP is the fruit of long-term research and development of a company which must be properly protected," NCSoft said. "We will continue our efforts to protect our IPs."

Kakao Games was not available for comment when the Korea JoongAng Daily reached out.

BY YOON SO-YEON [yoon.soyeon@joongang.co.kr]