Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) has agreed to stop distributing retail packaged versions of Valve's games. The move is a part of the settlement agreement VU has reached with Value Software that brings an end to a pending federal court lawsuit filed by Valve in August 2002.
The companies said they have resolved their differences and reached a settlement that provides for the dismissal of all claims and counterclaims.
Under the settlement agreement, VU Games will cease distribution of retail packaged versions of Valve's games, including "Half-Life", "Half-Life 2", "Counter-Strike", "Counter-Strike: Condition Zero" and "Counter-Strike: Source", effective August 31, 2005.
VU Games will also inform its distributors as well as cyber cafes to whom it has been providing gaming licenses that only Valve is authorized to distribute Valve games to cyber cafes and grant cyber cafe licenses.
The company will also notify cyber cafes that any license agreement from Sierra Entertainment, Vivendi Universal Games or any of their affiliates or distributors that may have granted rights to use Valve games in cyber cafes, whether written or oral, would be terminated.
