Florida attorney Jack Thompson has long been outspoken
against many of Take-Two Interactive games, mostly those from the Grand Theft
Auto franchise. In a rather peculiar turn of events, Thompson is offering his
help to Electronic Arts in its hopes of acquiring Take-Two.
In a letter copied to Game
Politics, Jack Thompson detailed his intentions to help EA’s business
matters in hopes of getting rid of current Take-Two Interactive chief Strauss
Zelnick.
“I am delighted to work with Electronic Arts to evict the
Zelnick Trojan Horse from within Take-Two’s corporate walls,” wrote Thompson. “In
doing so, I can get the new Take-Two into the clear as to the trouble I and
others can send its way.”
Thompson continues by saying that the current Take-Two
leadership is the true thorn in the publisher’s side. “Zelnick is the source of
trouble headed Take-Two’s way, not I, and EA can make the case, with my help, that
such trouble can be avoided,” he added.
As strange as it may be for Thompson to help EA acquire a
company that he has been constantly at odds with, the lawyer stands to profit
should an acquisition take place. During late 2005, Thompson declared that he
had purchased shares of Take-Two Interactive presumably for the right to attend
the game publisher’s shareholder meetings.
If EA is offering the “high
premium” that it claims to be, any shareholder of Take-Two stock could
benefit from the immediate purchase.
Thompson also has a storied history with the current
management team at Take-Two – including Strauss Zelnick, the man he labeled as
“the source of trouble.” Thompson may be joining EA only as they both view
Take-Two as a target.
Last March, Take-Two sued Thompson for his attempts at
restricting the first amendment rights of the game maker. The two parties
eventually reached
a settlement that would put distance between Take-Two and Thompson.
Currently, Thompson is wrestling with a court order that demands that he proves
by March 5 that he is not abusing the legal system for his own personal agenda.
