Judge compares Vivendi-Activation merger to a WoW quest
by Natalie Mootz 
Jul 3rd 2008 at 7:30PM
The judge ruling on a dispute related to the Vivendi-Activision deal has used WoW metaphors for the actions of the litigants. William B. Chandler III, the chief judge of the Delaware Court of Chancery, showed an unusually keen grasp of the dynamics of the game -- way more than either of my parents would understand. His ruling describes, among other things, crafting, questing, battlegrounds, guilds, and even our unique linguistic habits. (My mother, for example, calls them typos.) Continuing his analysis, Judge Chandler says that the world of Mergers & Acquisitions is similar to an MMORPG where "participants take on certain roles, interact in their own community, hone specialized skills, and even develop a unique, somewhat curious vernacular." The judge concluded his denial of the injunction with the words "GAME OVER."Judge Chandler is no stranger to hipness. In previous decisions he has also made references to 50 Cent, Ray Charles, Notorious B.I.G., and Cerberus, the mythological dog that guarded the gates of the underworld. Perhaps he's trying to keep the jurors awake?
Filed under: Virtual selves, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sham Jul 3rd 2008 7:53PM
give him a cookie.
Ametrine Jul 3rd 2008 8:03PM
This is clearly the coolest judge ever.
Tumnus Jul 3rd 2008 8:35PM
I *love* the 'shopped judgement logo on the front there.
Perrins Jul 3rd 2008 8:42PM
so basically he's the judge that insults you and denies you using your own language. nice.
Bluk0 Jul 3rd 2008 8:58PM
dude this judge freakin rocks
Bluk0 Jul 3rd 2008 8:58PM
dude this judge freakin rocks!
Sherp Jul 3rd 2008 9:03PM
OK, the link-spamming in WoW Insider is getting out of bad. There's no way that Judge Chandler's profession has anything to do with WI's latest Paladin column. Linking every term in every post to anything that might possibly have something to do with that term just makes it harder to find the important links--the one you were actually talking about was #5, and there's no text in the column to indicate that, so readers have to hover over each one to get to the meat of the article. It's annoying. Please stop.
PeeWee Jul 3rd 2008 9:39PM
*stamp of approval*
Natalie Mootz Jul 3rd 2008 10:28PM
Cool. Please feel free to write the editors about your opinions!
Enli Jul 4th 2008 7:14AM
I think they just did.
Gurran Jul 3rd 2008 9:27PM
*Agrees with Sherp*
Nick Jul 3rd 2008 9:59PM
NICE this was right up the street from me. I am literally 5 minutes from the court that held the proceedings i wonder if the public is allowed . . . .
RT Jul 3rd 2008 11:00PM
That is the funniest decision I have ever read!
thomas saint thomas Jul 4th 2008 1:13AM
whats an activation merger?
hpavc Jul 4th 2008 6:06AM
very interesting stuff
GotGame.com Jul 7th 2008 6:05PM
Wow, definitely one of the cooler judges i've seen.