Author Mario Puzo’s estate reportedly is suing Hollywood’s Paramount Pictures for $1 million over proceeds from a video game inspired by “The Godfather.”

Puzo, who died in 1999, wrote the book on which the classic gangster pictures and new video game are based.

The Los Angeles Times said his estate is suing the studio for not sharing the profits from the game with Puzo’s heirs.

The lawsuit said Paramount and Puzo agreed he would receive a “significant share” of “audiovisual” products based on “The Godfather.”




Puzo’s son and executor, Anthony Puzo, said in court papers “The Godfather” video game is included in the deal because it features characters from the book and movies.

“You hear them. You see them. That’s audiovisual to me,” the estate’s lawyer, Bert Fields, told the Times.

The Times said Paramount declined to comment for its story.

 The U.S. gaming giant Electronic Arts said Wednesday it is celebrating the sale of its 100 millionth unit of “The Sims” games.

Electronic Arts said that since it debuted in 2000, “The Sims” games have gone on to become the best-selling PC game franchise of all time.

The company said it is sold in 22 languages and 60 countries around the world.

“At this milestone, we want to thank players of ‘The Sims’ everywhere for making ‘The Sims’ such a worldwide phenomenon,” Rod Humble, studio head for games label, said in a statement posted on the company’s Web site. “‘The Sims’ has been an interactive experience for people around the globe to explore their passion for creativity and we’re thrilled to be a part of that.”

Label President Nancy Smith said the line of games “truly unique in the world of interactive entertainment because it attracts creative people around the world of all ages and both genders.”