Zynga to EA: 'No, YOU'RE the copycat'

Following EA's hissy fit last Friday over Zynga's perceived copyright infringement of The Sims Social, the company responsible for FarmVille has initiated a riposte worthy of an Olympic fencer.

Well, a 12-year-old Olympic fencer. If there is such a thing.

After being accused by EA of ripping off its The Sims Social title with the rather familiar-looking The Ville AND being sued by the Madden maker, Zynga has defended itself by questioning EA's grasp of copyright law and launching a stinging counter-attack concerning EA's own creative record.

General counsel for Zynga Reggie Davis says that EA's course "clearly demonstrates a lack of understanding of basic copyright principles".

He adds that "it's also ironic that EA brings this suit shortly after launching SimCity Social which bears an uncanny resemblance to Zynga's CityVille game."

Davis then invited the whole of the EA legal team out onto the playground for a scrap after school. He didn't really, of course, but such an offer would certainly be in the spirit of things.