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Back in October, we learned that Epic Games had filed a lawsuit against two specific Fortnite cheaters. This is something we have seen done before, with similar cases coming from the likes of Riot Games and Blizzard. However, this week some more details about the case came to light, including the fact that one of the defendants is just 14 years old.
The two defendants in the case were accused of being associated with the site ‘Addicted Cheats' which supplies a number of cheats for online games, including Fortnite. Epic Games has left the young teenager on the lawsuit because he uploaded a video to YouTube revealing how to use cheats in Fortnite. Epic Games submitted a DMCA Takedown request on the video, but it was appealed, which meant Epic either had to escalate to legal channels, or drop the claim entirely.
Instead of responding to the lawsuit via an attorney, the boy's mother came out to his defense instead. In a letter sent to the court (via TorrentFreak) she claims her child is being used as a ‘scapegoat' in order to make an example of him. She also argues that instead of going after those who use these cheat codes, Epic Games should be going after the websites/companies that supply them: “The company is in the process of suing a multitude of players for this game Fortnite. Instead of Epic Games INC suing the websites providing the cheat codes, they are going after the individuals using these codes”
Eurogamer contacted Epic Games for a statement on the matter, to which the company replied: “This particular lawsuit arose as a result of the defendant filing a DMCA counterclaim to a takedown notice on a YouTube video that exposed and promoted Fortnite Battle Royale cheats and exploits. Under these circumstances, the law requires that we file suit or drop the claim. Epic is not okay with ongoing cheating or copyright infringement from anyone at any age. As stated previously, we take cheating seriously, and we'll pursue all available options to make sure our games are fun, fair, and competitive for players.”
The issue here is that the 14 year-old defendant did not create the cheat software being used, nor did he make any money posting videos showing the cheats in action. The boy's mother is calling on the court to dismiss the case as “the infraction does not equate the suing of a minor by a major gaming company”. From the sounds of it though, Epic Games is planning to stick this out and continue on with its case.
KitGuru Says: This lawsuit just got a lot messier than we had initially anticipated. What do you guys think Epic Games should do in this situation?
Well now we know why the little shit cheated in the first place; daddies gone and mums spoilt the turd rotten. I hope she and her son get ripped apart for being part of this self entitled generation of asshats we see on todays games.
Got to state it first online cheating only wrecks it for everyone else that plays the game. If you cheat and are only playing offline then that is up to you as long as you do not try to move your toon into the online ring and be all boosted up blah blah blah.
Now to me personally I think it is pretty sad when a company like this sues players for cheating. When I read they are doing this I was like WTF get real already its a frackin game. Ban them from playing and then fix your game plug the holes etc etc but to sue them really again get frackin real. This will be a very good way to lose even more customers of your products.
If they want to cheat either ban them out right or suspend their accounts for like 2 or three months and see if they have learned their lesson when they come back to play if they do at all. Suing for something this trivial is pretty lame guys there are far worse things going on in the world.
You may have misread this article as:
Regarding the 14 year old –
It would appear all the makers of Fortnight originally did was send a DMCA takedown request for a video (uploaded by the 14 year old); that showed how to cheat in their game.
They are well within
their rights to do so as it breaches their terms of service and, utilises their intellectual property (gameplay footage) for purposes that damage their company image using third-party software (which can be profited from) along with potential gain for the 14 year old (publicity, money, etc.).
The 14 year then went on to refuse the takedown request and issue a counter claim of which, has been clearly indicated would mean the makers of Fortnight would have to drop their original request; or go to court with the 14 year old. At this point the 14 year old is under the disillusion they can refuse this request and win and, in my frank opinion deserve to be visibly shown that this behaviour won’t be tolerated by anyone in a court of law.
Regarding the other person –
They are suspected to be of active assistance with the development / use / distribution of the cheats in question.
–
Also they did ban the accounts originally; multiple times. They just made new accounts and did it again… and again…
If a child is at fault for damages of sorts and a lawsuit is put into place are the parents not liable for their childs actions?
So did Mummy file the DMCA counterclaim then? If not, clearly her son knows enough about what he is doing to take the punishment for it. If Epic’s only options, when the counterclaim was filed, were to drop the case or take it to the courts, what did he think would happen?!
Or, maybe teach him to be responsible and not to expect everything to handed to them. And maybe learn to actually play the game?
He should get a life. The bitch is going after young people who does that… FREAK