The Great White North want a French version of Pokémon... and they'll sue to get it

According to a Reuters report, the Quebec provincial government today threatened to sue Nintendo Co. Ltd. and Sony Corp. if the companies failed to provide French-language versions of their popular products - and New Year's Eve is the cut-off date.

In a news conference, French Language Minister Louise Beaudoin said that she's met Canadian officials of both Japanese companies over the past 18 months and has come to the conclusion that they would not offer their products in French in Quebec, Canada's only French-speaking province.

"Why not Pokémon in French? It exists elsewhere,'' Beaudoin said. "I am launching an ultimatum. I conclude that it is time to act and to consider that negotiations have not been successful. The law must be applied."

Beaudoin said that videogame versions from France are incompatible with North American technology. While this is true for consoles (PAL vs NTSC broadcast standards), French Game Boy games will work across the board. Asked what she had in mind, Beaudoin said, "A legal warning to comply with regulations first and eventually suits. I hope we will not reach that stage.''

French has been Quebec's official language since 1977 and the Quebec Charter of the French language compels firms operating in Quebec to sell products at least in French, without banning any other language. The Quebec law also forces product packaging, instructions and guarantees to be written in French as well.

However, neither Sony nor Nintendo are based in Quebec, and if these companies don't want to release French versions of their games, they can do whatever the heck they want.


Courtesy of IGN.com