Pulp Fiction writer sues Microsoft

Pulp Fiction co-writer Roger Avary is suing Microsoft, accusing the software giant of stealing his idea for a virtual yoga studio.

Avary seeks at least $30m (€23m) plus punitive damages and has asked a judge to stop Microsoft and co-defendant Respondesign Inc from selling the game, called Yourself! Fitness.

ResponDesign chief executive Ted Spooner, who calls the claims "completely false", says: "(Microsoft) did not participate in the development of this product in any way, shape or form."

According to his lawsuit, Oscar-winning screenwriter Avary met several times with the Microsoft team, and in 2003, pitched them a detailed concept for a video game designed to lead players through yoga poses using Micro soft's XBox game console.

He says he was "shocked" to learn last month from newspaper reports that Microsoft had announced a new Xbox game called Yourself! Fitness that was almost identical to his proposal.