One of the stranger lawsuits we’ve seen – not just this year, but ever – involved The Pinkertons. Yes, the real Pinkertons, the modern-day incarnation of the fabled private security company known for “less-than-savory activities in bounty hunting, strikebreaking, and union busting throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries.”
Back in January, the company’s current owner accused Take-Two and Rockstar Games of using its name and history prominently without permission inside Red Dead Redemption 2 and Red Dead Online. It was demanding both a licensing agreement and royalties. As The Ancient Gaming Noob himself put it,
Take-Two, of course, argued that “the use of the word is justified on the grounds of historical accuracy” and filed its own suit to declare its used sanctified as fair.
Anyhow, it’s all over now, as Rockstar has dismissed its suit, confirming that the Pinkertons themselves have withdrawn its claim, thereby robbing us of a couple of years of popcorn watching this feud play out online. Thanks a lot, guys.
