This one is going to require a bit of preamble. Don't worry, it's entertaining as hell.

William B. Chandler III is the chief judge of the Delaware Court of Chancery, which is arguably the most influential corporate law tribunal in the United States. Chandler is well-versed in pop culture and isn't afraid to bring it to the courtroom, and as a result he's become a bit of a pop culture icon himself. Check this case from a couple of years ago which involved the world of car customization (these are Chandler's words):

Plaintiff EDIX Media Group and defendant Parham Mahani both operate within a multi-billion dollar niche industry concerning after-market modifications to the vehicles of automotive enthusiasts. These hobbyists spend great amounts of time, effort, and money pimping their rides or tricking out their cars through such alterations as vertically-opening doors, bass-heavy audio systems, or highly-customized paint work . . . The world of whips is a small one in which reputation matters greatly.

Whip, as used in the name of defendant’s company SponsoredWhips, is a slang term for an automobile. See, e.g., 50 Cent, Poor Lil Rich, on Get Rich or Die Tryin’ (Shady Records/Aftermath Records/Interscope Records, 2003) (I let my watch talk for me, my whip talk for me, my gat [gun] talk for me, BOW!).

So this week surfaces another "classic Chandler opinion", where the judge made a court decision regarding litigation on the Vivendi-Activision deal, inspired by World of Warcraft. Here's an excerpt from the 29-page document:

World of Warcraft, the market-leading massively multiplayer online role playing game, entices millions of paying subscribers to immerse themselves in a virtual online world. These subscribers create their own characters, and through these avatars they interact with other players, develop skills, create a unique jargon, join guilds and alliances, engage in battles, and embark on quests. . . . In some ways, perhaps, the world of Mergers and Acquisitions is a massively multiplayer role playing game as well. Like in World of Warcraft and other games, the participants in the M&A field take on certain roles, interact in their own community, hone specialized skills, and even develop a unique, somewhat curious vernacular. One particular quest in the world of M&A is disclosure litigation. In the instance of disclosure litigation presently pending before this Court, the world of M&A meets the World of Warcraft.

If the court could have a slogan, I think it should be "Delaware Court of Chancery: Where WoW, 50 Cent and whips come together."

The plaintiff requested a preliminary injunction, which Chandler denied, concluding: “In the role-playing game that is this disclosure litigation, both sides have played their respective roles well. Like any game, this one has rules, and the most essential rule of disclosure is materiality. Because the plaintiff could not establish the materiality of its final three disclosure claims, the motion for a preliminary injunction is denied. . . .GAME OVER.”

Pwned? It would seem so.