Gree Files Lawsuit Against DeNA Over Antitrust Violation

Major Japanese social game provider and firm Gree and telecommunications operator KDDI said they have filed a lawsuit against mobile social gaming company DeNA in Tokyo District Court for allegedly violating Japanese antitrust law. In a statement today, Gree explained that it has brought a lawsuit against DeNA, parent of Ngmoco, on the grounds that DeNA was presented with a cease and desist order in June, after the Japan Fair Trade Commission found DeNA had conducted "unfair business practices." According to the cease and desist order, DeNA chose not to list links to social games on its large "Mobage Town" social network if those developers also provided games through Gree's competing social network service. Even after the cease and desist order was presented, DeNA allegedly continued to block developers. Gree and KDDI are now looking to claim damages of ¥1.05 billion ($13.7 million) in total against the company. "Gree has extensively deliberated on how it should react to the illegal acts carried out by DeNA since the cease and desist order became final and binding," said Gree in a statement. "Gree has decided to bring a lawsuit against DeNA. Supporting Gree's grounds to achieve sound development of the entire social game industry through sound competition described below, KDDI, co-operating company of 'au one Gree' with Gree, made the decision to become a co-plaintiff in the lawsuit." In a an "unofficial" translation sent to Gamasutra by DeNA's internal press relations, DeNA said that it had received "no contact" from either of the two companies in relation to the new lawsuit.