In 2002, French conglomerate Vivendi threatened to bankrupt Valve Corporation, the developer of Half-Life 2. The dispute started when Vivendi distributed Counter-Strike in South Korean internet cafes without permission from Valve. However, a crucial email revealed that Vivendi’s executives were instructed to destroy documents related to the case.
Valve COO Scott Lynch recalled seeing this as a minor dispute, but things escalated quickly. “Vivendi decided to go World War 3” in response, launching a barrage of counter-claims against Valve. The company was on the brink of bankruptcy, with Lynch and CEO Gabe Newell personally at risk.
Enter Andrew, a summer intern who worked at the law firm representing Valve. With his fluency in Korean language studies, Andrew found an email that exposed Vivendi’s attempt to cover up incriminating documents. This discovery gave Valve leverage to turn the tables on Vivendi, securing a highly favorable settlement and full ownership of its IP.
If not for Andrew’s timely intervention, Half-Life 2 might never have made it to market. Steam would not have existed, and PC gaming as we know it today might be very different. The close call was just one of many in Valve’s history, but it highlights the importance of strategic partnerships and effective communication in the face of adversity.
Source: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/a-summer-intern-once-saved-valve-from-a-near-fatal-lawsuit-after-a-publisher-decided-to-go-world-war-3-on-it-and-it-all-hinged-on-one-email