Grand Theft Auto Makers Sue BBC Over Drama

The makers of Grand Theft Auto (GTA) are suing the BBC over an upcoming drama based on the development of the popular video game series.

Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of UK-based Rockstar Games, has filed the lawsuit for trademark infringement.

The one-off drama is called Game Changer and features Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe as Rockstar president Sam Houser.

The feature will coincide with a series of BBC programmes on the theme of computer coding. The show is based around the creation of the game and the controversy surrounding its violent content.

But in a statement to gaming site IGN, Rockstar Games hit out.

"Take-Two Interactive has filed suit against the BBC for trademark infringement based on their movie currently titled Game Changer as it relates to Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto video game series," it said.

"While holders of the trademarks referenced in the film title and its promotion, Rockstar Games has had no involvement with this project.

"Our goal is to ensure that our trademarks are not misused in the BBC's pursuit of an unofficial depiction of purported events related to Rockstar Games.

"We have attempted multiple times to resolve this matter with the BBC without any meaningful resolution. It is our obligation to protect our intellectual property and unfortunately in this case litigation was necessary."

Bill Paxton will star opposite Radcliffe as American lawyer and critic of the Grand Theft Auto series, Jack Thompson.

Filming is already under way ahead of a scheduled release later this year.

When it announced the drama, the BBC said it was "the story of the controversy surrounding the computer game Grand Theft Auto - arguably the greatest British coding success story since Bletchley Park".

In response to Rockstar’s statement today, a BBC spokesperson said: "We do not comment on legal matters."