Distinctive Software
{{more citations needed|date=December 2022}}
{{Short description|Canadian video game developer}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Distinctive Software, Inc.
| logo = Distinctive Software logo.PNG
| successor = EA Canada
| defunct = {{end date|1991}}
| fate = Merged into EA Canada
| key_people = Don Mattrick
Jeff Sember
Paul Lee
Tarrnie Williams
Bruce McMillan
| industry = Video games
| products = Test Drive series
4D Sports series
| parent =
| foundation = {{start date and age|1982}}
| location_city = Burnaby, British Columbia
| location_country = Canada
}}
Distinctive Software, Inc. was a Canadian video game developer established in Burnaby, British Columbia, by Don Mattrick and Jeff Sember after their success with the game Evolution.{{cite news|url=https://www.burnabynow.com/business/ea-canada-pushes-boundaries-in-burnaby-1.1344456|author=Zinn, Jacob|title=EA Canada pushes boundaries in Burnaby|work=Burnaby Now|date=September 5, 2014|access-date=September 26, 2019}} Mattrick (age 17) and Jeff Sember approached Sydney Development Corporation, who agreed to publish Evolution in 1982.{{cite news|url=https://www.straight.com/article-198534/video-game-family-tree|title=Case: Vancouver's video game family tree [C]|author=Kyllo, Blaine|date=January 28, 2009|work=The Georgia Straight|access-date=September 26, 2019}} Distinctive Software was known in the late 1980s and early 1990s for their racing and sports video games, including the Test Drive series, Stunts, 4D Boxing, and Hardball II. In 1991, Distinctive was acquired by Electronic Arts in a deal worth {{USD|10}} million and became EA Canada, which is where the most EA Sports branded games are developed.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/18/business/company-news-electronic-arts-to-buy-distinctive.html|title=COMPANY NEWS; Electronic Arts To Buy Distinctive|work=The New York Times|date=June 18, 1991}}
Unlimited Software and lawsuit
In 1989, programmers Pete Gardner and Amory Wong of Distinctive, under the pseudonym USI (Unlimited Software, Inc.), converted Sega's arcade game Out Run for MS-DOS. They used several software libraries they had developed for Test Drive II. Consequently, Accolade charged that Distinctive violated a working agreement, and sued. Accolade sought a preliminary injunction against the distribution and sale of Out Run. Distinctive Software argued that it had only used source code that did routine functions, such as clearing the video screen and that Accolade did not own a copyright on those functions. Accolade argued that their contract for Test Drive II gave them the ownership and copyright of the final product—the game—and the source code used to create it. Distinctive Software won; the court ruled that "the licensing agreement transfers to Accolade the copyright to the concept and design of the video game but not the underlying source code." The court also found that Accolade had failed to demonstrate that the balance of hardships was in its favor.{{cite web|url=http://www.patentarcade.com/2005/05/case-accolade-v-distinctive-ndcal-1990.html|title=Case: Accolade v. Distinctive (N.D.Cal. 1990) [C]|author=Dannenberg, Ross|date=May 30, 2005|website=Patent Arcade|access-date=September 26, 2019|archive-date=November 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127124431/http://patentarcade.com/2005/05/case-accolade-v-distinctive-ndcal-1990.html|url-status=dead}}
Games
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{MobyGames company|company=distinctive-software-inc}}
{{Electronic Arts}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Electronic Arts subsidiaries
Category:Video game development companies
Category:Video game companies established in 1982
Category:Video game companies disestablished in 1991
Category:Defunct video game companies of Canada
Category:Companies based in Burnaby
Category:Defunct companies of British Columbia
Category:1982 establishments in British Columbia
Category:1991 disestablishments in British Columbia
Category:Canadian companies established in 1982
Category:Canadian companies disestablished in 1991
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