ZeniMax publically called out Oculus VR earlier this month with claims that former employee and gaming icon John Carmack stole intellectual property that was ultimately used to help develop the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset and help hire away several former employees with confidential and proprietary knowledge of ZeniMax and virtual reality to come work for Oculus VR.
On Wednesday, ZeniMax and id Software officially filed suit in the Northern Texas district against Oculus VR over the matter.
Specifically, ZeniMax is accusing Oculus of misappropriation of trade secrets, copyright infringement, breach of contract, unfair competition, unjust enrichment, trademark infringement and false designation after having signed contracts preventing them from doing so.
As a result of Facebook's $2 billion acquisition of Oculus VR back in March, they now stand to realize billions of dollars in value from ZeniMax's intellectual property according to the lawsuit. The company said all of their efforts to resolve the matter amicably have been unsuccessful thus far.
Oculus issued a statement on the matter saying the lawsuit filed by ZeniMax has no merit whatsoever and as they have previously stated, ZeniMax did not contribute to any Oculus technology. Oculus VR plans to defend these claims vigorously.
ZeniMax is seeking unspecified actual damages, restitution, disgorgement, unjust enrichment, equitable relief, punitive and exemplary damage, statutory damages, enhanced damages and all other relief to which they believe they are entitled to.