Valve Software recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of Half-Life 2 with a two-hour documentary about its development. The film also exposed the company’s narrow escape from financial ruin due to a massive lawsuit from Vivendi, a French conglomerate.
In 2001, Vivendi acquired Sierra and Valve, and then distributed copies of Counter-Strike in internet cafes, sparking a dispute over contract breaches. Valve was forced to take the matter to court, but Vivendi retaliated with “World War 3” of counter-claims, aiming to put Valve out of business.
Valve’s financial situation became dire due to bleeding funds and constant litigation. However, a summer intern named “Andrew,” who spoke fluent Korean, discovered an email revealing that Korean Vivendi employees were destroying documents related to the lawsuit. This single piece of evidence gave Valve an advantage in court, ultimately securing full ownership of its games, creating Steam, and achieving a settlement.
The documentary highlights how one individual’s discovery turned the tide for Valve, potentially saving the company from bankruptcy.
Source: https://www.gosugamers.net/entertainment/news/73772-an-intern-saved-valve-and-steam-from-a-crushing-vivendi-lawsuit