In a significant development in the ongoing legal battle between Nexon and Ironmace over the game Dark and Darker, witness testimonies are scheduled to take place for the first time. According to court officials, witnesses A and B, requested by Nexon and Ironmace respectively, will appear during the trial on December 17.
Nexon’s witness, referred to as A, is a key-level designer who was deeply involved in the development of "Project P3," the predecessor to Dark and Darker. During earlier court proceedings, Nexon introduced A’s role, highlighting that Dark and Darker allegedly share striking similarities with concepts originally from Nexon’s internal projects, including "Project LF" and "Project P3."
Nexon claims that Dark and Darker director Choi Joo Hyun initially worked on "Project LF," a single-player fantasy dungeon exploration game with PvE elements. Following internal reviews, the project evolved into "Project P3," incorporating multiplayer, PvP, and survival mechanics. Nexon contends that it was A, not Choi, who applied these new features to the early version of "P3." The company argues that "P3" was not solely Choi’s vision, challenging Ironmace’s position on the origins of Dark and Darker.
Meanwhile, Ironmace’s witness B is a sound designer who previously worked on "Project P3" at Nexon and now handles sound design at Ironmace. B’s testimony is expected to provide insights into the developmental parallels between "P3" and Dark and Darker while addressing Nexon’s allegations.
The lawsuit was initially slated to conclude in October, but the introduction of witness testimonies extended the timeline. Nexon submitted its request for witness A on October 24, followed by Ironmace’s request for witness B on December 2.
Both sides will have the opportunity to question the witnesses during the hearing. Nexon’s legal team is likely to probe Ironmace’s witness for details supporting their allegations, while Ironmace may use the testimony of Nexon’s witness to undermine the plaintiff’s claims. The witnesses’ statements could have a pivotal impact on the court’s decision.
This legal dispute highlights broader issues of intellectual property and creative ownership in the gaming industry. As both companies prepare for a critical phase in their trial, the testimonies are expected to provide valuable evidence that could shape the outcome of the case.
Sayart / Kang In sig, insig6622@naver.com
