Attorneys representing 61-year-old lawyer Jeffrey Marder accuse game developer Niantic Inc of facilitating the ‘unlawful and wrongful’ invasion of Mr Marder’s property by players of the smartphone game Pokémon Go, which encourages players to locate, capture, train and battle Pokémon creatures in the ‘real world’ using GPS-generated maps. According to the complaint, Mr Marder observed strangers gathering outside his home in the days following the game’s release, with at least five knocking on the door and asking whether they could come in to ‘catch’ Pokémon. ‘The intentional, unauthorised placement of Pokéstops and Pokémon gyms on or near the property of the Plaintiff and other members of the proposed class constitutes a continuing invasion of the class members’ use and enjoyment of their land, committed by Niantic on an ongoing basis for the Defendant’s profit,’ reads the lawsuit, which alleges claims of nuisance and unjust enrichment and is seeking class-action status.
Sources: Wall Street Journal; BBC
Email your news and story ideas to: [email protected]
