If you thought those annoying Pinkerton agents caused you lots of problems in Red Dead Redemption 2, that’s nothing compared to the issue the game’s publisher is now facing for including the famed detective agency in its story. Turns out the Pinkerton company still exists, and now it’s suing for its piece of the Old West action.
The Verge reports that Red Dead Redemption 2 publisher Take-Two is claiming fair use in response to a cease-and-desist letter it received from the Swedish company Securitas AB, which owns the Pinkerton Detective Agency (yup, it’s still around). In December, two months after the game’s release to tens of millions of sales, Securitas AB asked for either a one time lump payment or continued royalties for the game’s use of Pinkerton agents Andrew Milton and Edgar Ross.
Take-Two is arguing that the inclusion of the company, originally known as the Pinkerton National Detective Agency when it was founded in 1850, in the game is covered by the First Amendment. It states that other historically accurate films, shows, and movies have previously used the company (now known as Pinkerton Consulting & Investigations) without issue.
Whether the game’s use of the company’s name, history, and likeness is protected is a question best left for great legal minds to argue (which does not include asking Weezer what they think), but at this point there is at least one thing we can all agree: those Pinkerton detectives sure know how to cause lots of problems.
Featured Image: Rockstar Games/Video Games Source