A prominent video game cheat maker has been ordered to pay Activision more than $14 million in damages and hand over its domain name, marking a significant legal victory for the gaming giant. The United States District Court for the Central District of California granted Activision’s motion for default judgment in its civil case against EngineOwning, a company notorious for selling cheats for various Call of Duty games, as well as for Counter-Strike, Battlefield, and Titanfall.
Court ruling and damages awarded
Activision was awarded $14,465,600 in statutory damages and $292,912 in attorneys’ fees. The court also issued a permanent injunction to prevent EngineOwning’s unlawful conduct and to transfer its domain name, www.EngineOwning.to, to Activision. This decision follows Activision’s successful argument that EngineOwning continued to circumvent its security systems and sell cheating software in violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
Breakdown of the damages:
- Statutory damages: $14,465,600
- Attorneys’ fees: $292,912
Activision called for the minimum statutory damages of $200 under the DMCA, multiplied by the approximate number of downloads of the cheating software in the United States (72,328), resulting in the total amount awarded. The court found this request reasonable given the circumstances.
Ongoing legal battles and challenges
In February 2023, a judge ruled that EngineOwning must pay Activision $3 million in damages after a lawsuit in which Activision claimed high-profile streamers used Warzone cheats. Despite this, EngineOwning continued its operations, selling cheats for games like Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone. This ongoing battle culminated in the recent ruling, but questions remain about whether Activision will be able to collect the awarded damages or gain control of the website, as EngineOwning appears to operate outside the U.S.
Call of Duty cheat and the broader impact on gaming
Cheating has been a longstanding issue in competitive multiplayer video games, with Call of Duty, particularly its free-to-download battle royale Warzone on PC, being heavily affected. Activision and other game publishers face significant challenges in their efforts to combat cheat makers. However, Activision hopes that rulings like this will serve as a meaningful deterrent as it prepares to release Black Ops 6 later this year.
Activision’s continued efforts against Call of Duty cheat
Activision has been proactive in its fight against cheating. Recently, the company announced via Twitter that all accounts found to have participated in any form of boosting behavior in Multiplayer or Warzone Ranked Play would have their SR reset and be removed from the Leaderboard ahead of the Season 4 launch. Furthermore, accounts that boosted their progression in Ranked Play will be permanently restricted from accessing Ranked Play modes in Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone.
Key takeaways:
- Legal victory: Activision’s court win against EngineOwning marks a significant step in the fight against video game cheating.
- Damages awarded: Over $14 million in statutory damages and attorneys’ fees.
- Ongoing challenges: Uncertainty remains about Activision’s ability to collect the awarded damages and control the domain.
- Industry impact: The ruling aims to deter future cheating activities as Activision prepares for new game releases.
- Continued vigilance: Activision’s ongoing efforts to ensure fair play in its games by resetting and restricting accounts involved in cheating.
This legal victory underscores the ongoing battle between game developers and cheat makers, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and robust security measures to ensure a fair gaming experience for all players.
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