Game maker Sony Computer Entertainment and one-time employee David Jaffe have been named in a lawsuit that accuses both Sony and Jaffe of blatantly stealing the work of two others and using that information in the God of War video game series.

Plantiffs Jonathon Bissoon-Dath and Jennifer Barrette-Herzog say that they sent a screenplay entitled Olympiad and an original illustrated map to Sony Pictures Entertainment in 2002. Three years later, a Sony-produced game entitled God of War was on store shelves, which they claim to share many similarities with their work.

"God of War is a derivative work based on and incorporating protected material unlawfully copied by defendants from plantiffs' original works," reads the filing, which was acquired by GamePolitics. "The similarities between plantiffs' works and God of War include similarities of plot, relationships among major characters, themes, setting, mood, pace and dialogue that are unique and pervasive."

Accused similarities include:

• "The original story of how a champion saves Athens from destruction by the invading Spartan army that has been sent by Areas...Athens is backed by Zeus and Athena."
• "The God of War image of the Bottomless Chasm in front of Pandora's Temple were clearly derived [from Barrette-Herzog's original map]."
• "The Champion's family is hacked to pieces...In both stories the Champion feels partially responsible even though he is really not to blame...Each seeks revenge."
• Both God of War lead Kratos and Bisson-Dath's character Dayh Gaylon are a "fanatical worshipper of Ares to the exclusion of Athena and the other gods."
• Kratos is equipped with "two massive, glowing sword-like blades fastened to chains fused to Kratos' wrists." Meanwhile, a scene in Bisson Dath's work sees the hands of Zeus "morph into two massive swords that glow like light sabers" while he performs "blades swirling" attacks.
• "Both Kratos and Gaylon have uncontrollable tempers...Both thirst for conquest."
• Both works see "flesh and blood" gods morphing out of stone statues.
• "Both works also take an identical and entire novel approach in their portrayal of the Olympic gods, virtually redefining what it means to be a god."

The original suit was filed on February 29, 2008, with Sony issued its legal response on August 29, 2008.

In that response, God of War creator David Jaffe denied the allegations, labeling most of the apparent similarities as "inaccurate, incomplete, abstracted and/or misleading."

The plantiffs are seeking damages, profits attributable to infringement, and injunctive relief from Sony and Jaffe.

First released on PlayStation 2 in 2005, the first entry in the God of War action series was developed by SCE Santa Monica. A PS2 sequel, God of War II, followed in 2007, with a Ready at Dawn-developed prequel arriving on PSP earlier this year.

A new God of War game is currently in development for PlayStation 3, though Sony has yet to specify a release date for the title. A motion pictured based on the franchise is also in the works.