'David vs Goliath' | Rockstar Games suffers legal setback as judge rules against studio in union-busting dispute

They may be preparing for arguably the biggest video game launch in history, but the makers of Grand Theft Auto are facing a major legal headache - for an employment tribunal has ruled against video games giant Rockstar in the latest stage of a dispute over alleged union-busting.

The ruling allows the IWGB Union to continue bringing blacklisting claims against the studio behind the Grand Theft Auto franchise at the final hearing set to take place over September and October this year.

Following the sudden dismissals of 31 of its members in October last year, the IWGB Union has been preparing to take Rockstar to court over allegations including blacklisting - the practice of compiling information about workers involved in union activity in order to discriminate against them.

At the latest preliminary hearing, Rockstar sought to strike blacklisting claims from the case being brought against it, but the ruling, published yesterday, rejects this attempt to narrow the scope of the case, and confirms that every one of the union’s allegations relating to union-busting can proceed to trial.