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Codies accuses ex-CEO of poaching staff

Over "100 years" of experience gone.

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Image credit: Eurogamer

British publisher Codemasters has accused former CEO Nicholas Wheelwright of poaching staff.

Codemasters alleged that Wheelwrights' Playground Games gained confidential information and trade secrets that amounted to a 12-month head start in the business of making games.

"Those employees constituted a ready-made top-rate racing games development team," said the writ (reported by the Daily Mail). "Between them they had some 100 years of experience in creating, developing and producing first-class computer racing games."

Codemasters added that Playground used the poached staff to impress would-be publishers with an experienced development team. Around 15 staff left Codemasters for Playground.

Codemasters is seeking unspecified damages.

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