Three former executives from the video game company Ubisoft received suspended sentences during the first significant trial linked to the gaming industry’s #MeToo movement, which aimed to address a culture of sexual and psychological harassment in the workplace.
A court in Bobigny, located north of Paris, heard testimonies on how these executives exploited their authority to intimidate and sexually harass employees, creating an atmosphere that left women feeling objectified.
A former employee recounted how, between 2012 and 2020, the Montreuil office, situated east of Paris, was rife with a toxic environment marked by bullying and sexism, which some employees compared to “legal juvenile clubs.”
Ubisoft, a family-owned French enterprise, has grown into one of the largest video game developers worldwide. The company is known for hit franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Just Dance.
State prosecutor Antoine Haushalter stated in court that the gaming world and its subculture are characterized by “systematic” sexism and potential abuse, framing it as a “turning point” for the industry.
Thomas François, a former editorial vice president at Ubisoft, 52, was found guilty of sexual harassment, psychological harassment, and attempted sexual assault. He received a suspended prison sentence of three years and was fined 30,000 euros (£26,000).
The court heard allegations that he once restrained a female colleague with tape, pushed her in a chair into an elevator, and selected a random floor. He was also accused of compelling a woman to wear a skirt and perform a handstand.
She testified, “He was my boss, and I was scared of him. He forced me to do a headstand. I complied out of fear.”
At a 2015 office Christmas party themed after Back to the Future, François allegedly approached a female staff member, expressing his admiration for 1950s attire, before attempting to kiss her while her coworkers held her back. She managed to scream and break free.
François defended himself in court by describing the workplace as one filled with a “culture of jokes,” insisting, “I never intended to hurt anyone.”
Serge Hascoët, 59, a former Chief Creative Officer and Deputy Commander at Ubisoft, was convicted of psychological harassment and complicity, although he was acquitted of charges related to sexual harassment. He received an 18-month suspended sentence and a fine of 45,000 euros.
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During the trial, it was disclosed that Hascoët had handed young female employees a tissue used for blowing his nose, remarking, “You can sell it; it’s worth a fortune at Ubisoft.” Witnesses also recounted instances of him bullying his assistant, demanding personal tasks like waiting at his house for package deliveries.
Hascoët asserted in court that he was unaware of any harassment occurring.
Hascoët’s attorney, Jean Guillaume Le Mintier, announced that his client is contemplating an appeal.
Guillaume Patrux, 41, a former game director at Ubisoft, was found guilty of psychological harassment, receiving a 12-month suspension and a fine of 10,000 euros.
The court was informed that he had physically assaulted walls, struck staff, cracked a whip close to a colleague’s face, threatened to fire an employee, and played with a lighter near another worker’s face while offering a man’s beard. He denied the allegations.
Source: www.theguardian.com
