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Plan to revive Sinclair ZX Spectrum hit by legal turmoil

One of the UK’s most high profile crowdfunding projects – an effort to revive the iconic Sinclair ZX Spectrum computer – has been beset by infighting and legal battles.

The turmoil is another blow to the nascent crowdfunding industry, which relies on thousands of online backers to support projects but has suffered a string of damaging failures.

The ZX Spectrum, the 1982 computer invented by the British entrepreneur Sir Clive Sinclair, helped bring video games to the home with titles such as Manic Miner and Jet Set Willy.

Retro Computers Limited, which plans to create a handheld version, has received more than £500,000 from thousands of backers. It was the biggest British project on crowdfunding website Indiegogo last year and was endorsed by Sir Clive himself.

However, it has been repeatedly delayed after its co-founder Paul Andrews and fellow director Chris Smith left last year, kicking off court battles over Mr Andrews’ shareholding.

Retro Computers is now run by a former chess champion David Levy and managing director Suzanne Martin, both long-time associates of Sir Clive, whose other inventions included the doomed C5 electric tricycle.

Retro Computers also claims that its former sales distributor Cornerstone, which has now been liquidated, owes the company money related to sales of a previous device.

The crowdfunded computer, the ZX Spectrum Vega Plus, was meant to go on sale last September but was delayed until last Monday.

Last week, Indiegogo removed the campaign page due to delays. Ms Martin said the postponed release was due to game developers pulling their support, but that it hoped to be able to release the project soon.  

“We’re utterly committed to finishing this, we have every intention of delivering,” she said.

Mr Andrews said that the company should “get on delivering what the backers have paid for.”