Grand Theft Auto False Advertising Suit Can’t Outrun Dismissal

Gamers who bought the video game Grand Theft Auto V before GTA Online was launched, failed to show a tie-in on the GTA V package violated California advertising laws, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit said Dec. 20.

GTA V was released two weeks before GTA Online was launched. But the GTA V package said the game could access GTA Online.

The plaintiffs claimed the package violated California’s unfair competition and false advertising laws because they had to wait two weeks before they could use GTA V to access GTA Online.

The gamers testified that if they ...