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Both parties reached a settlement on 20 April 2007,<ref>{{cite web|title=Case No. 07-20693-CIV-Altonaga/Turnoff| publisher=Xboxusersgroup.com|date=|url=http://www.xboxusersgroup.com/images/stories/FL-T2-JT-settlement.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=}}</ref> and agreed to drop their respective lawsuits. Under the terms of the settlement Thompson is barred from suing to block the sale or distribution of any future games published by Take-Two or any of its subsidiaries. He will be restricted to communicating through Take-Two's attorneys on any future matters. Thompson will still be able to maintain his outspoken stance against the publisher's titles, as well as still being allowed to act as counsel in lawsuits brought against Take-Two by other parties. For their part, Take-Two agreed to drop its contempt of court lawsuit against Thompson regarding alleged improper conduct during the ''[[Bully]]'' court hearings in Florida,<ref>Game Politics Staff (23 October, [[2006]]) [http://gamepolitics.com/2006/10/23/could-jack-thompson-go-to-jail-over-bully-case/ Could Jack Thompson Be Jailed Over "Bully" Case?], ''gamepolitics.com''</ref><ref>Dodson, Jason [http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=11370 Report: Jack Thompson May Face Contempt Charge], ''gamasutra.com''</ref> which, if found to be in contempt, could have resulted in Thompson seeing jail time.<ref>Game Politics Staff [http://gamepolitics.com/2007/04/19/breaking-grand-theft-auto-publisher-settles-lawsuit-against-jack-thompson/ GTA Publisher, Jack Thompson Settle Lawsuit], ''gamepolitics.com''</ref><ref>Seff, Micah [http://psp.ign.com/articles/782/782372p1.html Jack Thompson and Take-Two Bury the Hatchet], ''ign.com''</ref><ref>Xbox Users Group [http://www.xboxusersgroup.com/content/view/3525/139/ GTA Publisher, Jack Thompson Settle Lawsuit], ''xboxusersgroup.com''</ref> | Both parties reached a settlement on 20 April 2007,<ref>{{cite web|title=Case No. 07-20693-CIV-Altonaga/Turnoff| publisher=Xboxusersgroup.com|date=|url=http://www.xboxusersgroup.com/images/stories/FL-T2-JT-settlement.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=}}</ref> and agreed to drop their respective lawsuits. Under the terms of the settlement Thompson is barred from suing to block the sale or distribution of any future games published by Take-Two or any of its subsidiaries. He will be restricted to communicating through Take-Two's attorneys on any future matters. Thompson will still be able to maintain his outspoken stance against the publisher's titles, as well as still being allowed to act as counsel in lawsuits brought against Take-Two by other parties. For their part, Take-Two agreed to drop its contempt of court lawsuit against Thompson regarding alleged improper conduct during the ''[[Bully]]'' court hearings in Florida,<ref>Game Politics Staff (23 October, [[2006]]) [http://gamepolitics.com/2006/10/23/could-jack-thompson-go-to-jail-over-bully-case/ Could Jack Thompson Be Jailed Over "Bully" Case?], ''gamepolitics.com''</ref><ref>Dodson, Jason [http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=11370 Report: Jack Thompson May Face Contempt Charge], ''gamasutra.com''</ref> which, if found to be in contempt, could have resulted in Thompson seeing jail time.<ref>Game Politics Staff [http://gamepolitics.com/2007/04/19/breaking-grand-theft-auto-publisher-settles-lawsuit-against-jack-thompson/ GTA Publisher, Jack Thompson Settle Lawsuit], ''gamepolitics.com''</ref><ref>Seff, Micah [http://psp.ign.com/articles/782/782372p1.html Jack Thompson and Take-Two Bury the Hatchet], ''ign.com''</ref><ref>Xbox Users Group [http://www.xboxusersgroup.com/content/view/3525/139/ GTA Publisher, Jack Thompson Settle Lawsuit], ''xboxusersgroup.com''</ref> | ||
Thompson filed a document with a federal court in Florida on 18 September 2007,<ref>Thompson, Jack [http://www.gamepolitics.com/images/legal/JT-GTA4-ltr.pdf Case 1:07-cv-21256-AJ Document 12-2] (PDF), ''gamepolitics.com''</ref> that claims that the assassination target of a mission in ''GTA IV'' is a lawyer [[Tom Goldberg|character]] based upon himself. When the main protagonist enters his office and pulls a gun on him, the lawyer yells "Guns don't kill people! Video games do!" Thompson has threatened that unless the similarities to himself are removed from the game he will "take necessary and proper means to stop release of the game".<ref>{{cite web|title=Jack Thompson Says GTA 4 Mission Target is Him; Threatens to Block Release|publisher=gamepolitics.com|date=|url=http://gamepolitics.com/2007/09/18/jack-thompson-says-gta-4-mission-target-is-him-threatens-to-block-release/|accessdate=}}</ref> | Thompson filed a document with a federal court in Florida on 18 September 2007,<ref>Thompson, Jack [http://www.gamepolitics.com/images/legal/JT-GTA4-ltr.pdf Case 1:07-cv-21256-AJ Document 12-2] (PDF), ''gamepolitics.com''</ref> that claims that the assassination target of a mission in ''GTA IV'' is a lawyer [[Tom Goldberg|character]] based upon himself. When the main protagonist enters his office and pulls a gun on him, the lawyer yells "Guns don't kill people! Video games do!" Thompson has threatened that unless the similarities to himself are removed from the game he will "take necessary and proper means to stop release of the game".<ref>{{cite web|title=Jack Thompson Says GTA 4 Mission Target is Him; Threatens to Block Release|publisher=gamepolitics.com|date=|url=http://gamepolitics.com/2007/09/18/jack-thompson-says-gta-4-mission-target-is-him-threatens-to-block-release/|accessdate=}}</ref> Despite this, both the mission and the character still remain in the game. | ||
On 25 April 2008, it was reported in Metro that Jack Thompson had written a letter to the mother of Strauss Zelnick, Director of [[Take-Two Interactive]]. In the letter, which strongly criticised the game, Zelnick, and his mother, Thompson called ''Grand Theft Auto'' a "murder simulator". He went on to say that "The pornography and violence that your son trafficks in is the kind of stuff that most mothers would be ashamed to see their son putting into the hands of other mothers' children". Thompson then questions Strauss Zelnick's upbringing and says that his mother should be ashamed of herself, and that she "...spared the rod and spoiled the child. That would explain why he has brought you, by the way he presently acts, to shame." He finishes by saying "Happy Mothers' Day, Mrs Zelnick, which this year is May 11, two weeks after your son unleashes porn and violence upon other mothers' boys. I'm sure you're very proud." Neither Take-Two interactive nor Rockstar Games have made any comment regarding the matter.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jack Thompson hounds Rockstar boss'... MOTHER|publisher=computerandvideogames.com|date=|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=187662|accessdate= }}</ref> Thompson subsequently claimed he sent the letter to Zelnick's lawyer, not his mother, and that the letter was formulated as a parody intended to induce feelings of "shame" in Zelnick.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jack Thompson's Open Letter to Take-Two CEO's Mother|publisher=diehardgamefan.insidepulse.com|date=|url=http://diehardgamefan.insidepulse.com/2008/04/22/jack-thompsons-open-letter-to-take-two-ceos-mother/|accessdate=}}</ref> | On 25 April 2008, it was reported in Metro that Jack Thompson had written a letter to the mother of Strauss Zelnick, Director of [[Take-Two Interactive]]. In the letter, which strongly criticised the game, Zelnick, and his mother, Thompson called ''Grand Theft Auto'' a "murder simulator". He went on to say that "The pornography and violence that your son trafficks in is the kind of stuff that most mothers would be ashamed to see their son putting into the hands of other mothers' children". Thompson then questions Strauss Zelnick's upbringing and says that his mother should be ashamed of herself, and that she "...spared the rod and spoiled the child. That would explain why he has brought you, by the way he presently acts, to shame." He finishes by saying "Happy Mothers' Day, Mrs Zelnick, which this year is May 11, two weeks after your son unleashes porn and violence upon other mothers' boys. I'm sure you're very proud." Neither Take-Two interactive nor Rockstar Games have made any comment regarding the matter.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jack Thompson hounds Rockstar boss'... MOTHER|publisher=computerandvideogames.com|date=|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=187662|accessdate= }}</ref> Thompson subsequently claimed he sent the letter to Zelnick's lawyer, not his mother, and that the letter was formulated as a parody intended to induce feelings of "shame" in Zelnick.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jack Thompson's Open Letter to Take-Two CEO's Mother|publisher=diehardgamefan.insidepulse.com|date=|url=http://diehardgamefan.insidepulse.com/2008/04/22/jack-thompsons-open-letter-to-take-two-ceos-mother/|accessdate=}}</ref> | ||