Unscrupulous ex-business partner

General (non-technical) Off-Topic
#1

Hello,

I am hoping to receive some advice in regards to a potentially sketchy situation. I have about 6+ months sunk into a project I started with an ex-business partner. He and I recently had a volatile parting-of-ways and I now consider him to be a dishonest businessman.

Here’s my problem… I want to finish the project but I fear a lawsuit if I don’t give him a significant cut. He has done almost nothing in terms of actual work. He wanted his role to be that of a publisher / promoter (exact percentages we not discussed). We had a number of discussions over coffee in the early phases of the project but I feel he didn’t contribute anything tangible to the game itself (I imagine he would argue he contributed conceptually).

I don’t want to abandon the project, but I don’t feel he is entitled to anything either. I understand I will most likely need to get a lawyer involved (or just shelf the game) but I thought I would ask here first.

Does anyone have any advice?

Thank you [import]uid: 197604 topic_id: 33193 reply_id: 333193[/import]

#2

Write him a letter and ask if he will release his interest in the project so you can go on and do it yourself.

If he says yes, you’re set.

If he says no, you’re at the same place you are now but have exhausted the easiest and cheapest solution. One that doesn’t even (necessarily) require a lawyer.

You don’t get if you don’t ask. You still might not, but at least you know.

Jay
[import]uid: 9440 topic_id: 33193 reply_id: 131862[/import]

#3

Thank you for the response, Jay. This looks like a good place to start (and hopefully resolve the matter).

In the event he refuses to release his interest, I wonder if it would be possible to alter the game concept or reuse the artwork in another project. Maybe this would allow me to salvage the lost time and minimize my risk of being sued.

Thanks again for the feedback. [import]uid: 197604 topic_id: 33193 reply_id: 131872[/import]

#4

Altering the game concept is definitely the second most preferable option. Just my two cents’ worth. [import]uid: 8271 topic_id: 33193 reply_id: 131898[/import]

#5

Do you have anything on paper about how he would be involved in the project, or the percentage he would get? Any agreement? If not, I don’t think there’s a lot he can do.
[import]uid: 50459 topic_id: 33193 reply_id: 131961[/import]

#6

Write him a letter and ask if he will release his interest in the project so you can go on and do it yourself.

If he says yes, you’re set.

If he says no, you’re at the same place you are now but have exhausted the easiest and cheapest solution. One that doesn’t even (necessarily) require a lawyer.

You don’t get if you don’t ask. You still might not, but at least you know.

Jay
[import]uid: 9440 topic_id: 33193 reply_id: 131862[/import]

#7

Thank you for the response, Jay. This looks like a good place to start (and hopefully resolve the matter).

In the event he refuses to release his interest, I wonder if it would be possible to alter the game concept or reuse the artwork in another project. Maybe this would allow me to salvage the lost time and minimize my risk of being sued.

Thanks again for the feedback. [import]uid: 197604 topic_id: 33193 reply_id: 131872[/import]

#8

@horacebury, yes I definitely agree. And I appreciate your two cents.

@rmbsoft, we didn’t have a written, signed contract. We did however have verbal agreements and emails stating I was intending to publish through his company. And no, exact percentages weren’t discussed although it was always implied I would take the majority and he would take a “cut” of sorts (mostly in exchange for his publishing services, PR contacts, exposure from his other apps, etc)

Thanks again for everyone’s advice. I appreciate the continued feedback. [import]uid: 197604 topic_id: 33193 reply_id: 131986[/import]

#9

+1 on carls and horacebury comments.

Kind of think of what you are asking him to do is like a quitclaim-deed on a house or piece of property.
Although there is no tangible property in unfinished software the concepts should apply legally.

If that doesnt work, change the concept and obviously the artwork, and move on. [import]uid: 9070 topic_id: 33193 reply_id: 131995[/import]

#10

Altering the game concept is definitely the second most preferable option. Just my two cents’ worth. [import]uid: 8271 topic_id: 33193 reply_id: 131898[/import]

#11

Do you have anything on paper about how he would be involved in the project, or the percentage he would get? Any agreement? If not, I don’t think there’s a lot he can do.
[import]uid: 50459 topic_id: 33193 reply_id: 131961[/import]

#12

@horacebury, yes I definitely agree. And I appreciate your two cents.

@rmbsoft, we didn’t have a written, signed contract. We did however have verbal agreements and emails stating I was intending to publish through his company. And no, exact percentages weren’t discussed although it was always implied I would take the majority and he would take a “cut” of sorts (mostly in exchange for his publishing services, PR contacts, exposure from his other apps, etc)

Thanks again for everyone’s advice. I appreciate the continued feedback. [import]uid: 197604 topic_id: 33193 reply_id: 131986[/import]

#13

+1 on carls and horacebury comments.

Kind of think of what you are asking him to do is like a quitclaim-deed on a house or piece of property.
Although there is no tangible property in unfinished software the concepts should apply legally.

If that doesnt work, change the concept and obviously the artwork, and move on. [import]uid: 9070 topic_id: 33193 reply_id: 131995[/import]