Background on Ubisoft and the Accused Executives
Ubisoft, a leading video game company based in France, has been at the center of a significant legal case involving three former high-ranking executives. The French court recently convicted these ex-executives for fostering a culture of sexual and psychological harassment within the company.
The Accused Executives
- Thomas François: Former Vice President of Editorial, received the harshest sentence of three years in suspension and a fine of 30,000 euros for moral, sexual harassment, and attempted sexual assault.
- Serge Hascoët: Former second-in-command at Ubisoft, was sentenced to 18 months in suspension and a fine of 45,000 euros for moral harassment and complicity in sexual harassment.
- Guillaume Patrux: Another former executive, was sentenced to 12 months in suspension and a fine of 10,000 euros.
Details of the Convictions
The court found Thomas François guilty of the most severe offenses, including forcing an employee to perform a sexually suggestive dance, using inappropriate nicknames, attempting to touch others’ genitals during a supposed “game,” and surprise kissing of male employees.
The case, dubbed the “MeToo of video games,” involved a group of young employees who broke their silence and filed a complaint against the toxic culture at Ubisoft.
Reactions and Impact
Maude Beckers, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision, stating that it sets a precedent for holding executives accountable for toxic management and ensuring that supervisors can no longer ignore such behavior.
Ubisoft initiated internal investigations following media coverage of the allegations, which led to broader criticism of the gaming industry in France.
Hascoët and François left the company in 2020, along with Patrux, following these investigations.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the ex-Ubisoft executives convicted? Thomas François, Serge Hascoët, and Guillaume Patrux.
- What were they convicted of? They were found guilty of fostering a culture of sexual and psychological harassment within Ubisoft.
- What were their sentences? Thomas François received three years in suspension and a fine of 30,000 euros; Serge Hascoët was sentenced to 18 months in suspension and a fine of 45,000 euros; Guillaume Patrux received 12 months in suspension and a fine of 10,000 euros.
- What specific acts led to their convictions? Thomas François was found guilty of forcing an employee to perform a sexually suggestive dance, using inappropriate nicknames, attempting to touch others’ genitals during a “game,” and surprise kissing of male employees.
- What is the significance of this case? The convictions set a precedent for holding executives accountable for toxic workplace cultures and ensuring that supervisors cannot ignore such behavior.
