Author John Beiswenger has sued Ubisoft and Gametrailers for copyright infringement, alleging that the storyline of the Assassin's Creed series was ripped off from his self-published 2002 novel, Link. The first Creed game came out in 2007.

In the complaint (pdf), filed with a U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania this week, Beiswenger says his novel was the source for plot points like the ability to relive historical events through the eyes of an ancestor.

The book apparently also includes references to assassins and assassinations, and the author's court filing lists dozens of alleged similarities between the two stories.

Beiswenger is seeking damages of up to $5.25 million. Ubisoft has not yet commented.

[gamasutra.]