Blizzard is suing hackers

[SpcyhknBC]

I used to think that Blizzard was the best company out there, but their behavior recently has really made me wonder how much Activision kool-aid they're drinking. I pretty much regret purchasing Starcraft II at this point.


Blizzard Suing Starcraft II Cheat Makers
Remember those 5000 people Blizzard busted for cheating in Starcraft II? Well the developer is going after those responsible with a vengeance, taking three men to court for creating the hacks those users employed.

"Just days after the release of Starcraft II, Defendants already had developed, marketed, and distributed to the public a variety of hacks and cheats designed to modify (and in fact destroy) the Starcraft II online game experience", the suit reads. "In fact, on the very day that Starcraft II was released, representatives of the hacks Web site advised members of the public that 'our staff is already planning new releases for this game.'"

The three men - "Permaphrost," "Cranix," and "Linuxawesome" - are being accused of "multiple counts of copyright infringement", with Blizzard seeking not just damages but also a cut of the money the three received selling the hacks. The first two are from Canada, the third, Peru.

They also stand accused of encouraging others to infringe upon Blizzard's copyright, because "When users of the Hacks download, install, and use the Hacks, they copy StarCraft II copyrighted content into their computer's RAM in excess of the scope of their limited license, as set forth in the EULA and ToU, and create derivative works of StarCraft II."

Despite the overseas location of the three men, the case will be heard in a Los Angeles US District Court, as stated in the game's Starcraft II's end-user license.

Source: http://kotaku.com/5665407/blizzard-suing-starcraft-ii-cheat-makers

 

[InsanityRequiem]

I don't care. Hackers get what they deserve.

Buy the game? You got the CD, the box it came in, and any information on said CD. The moment you rewrite and tamper with the coding and plan to sell/distribute the hacked coding, you are violating Blizzard's IP. Therefore you get busted.

Worse if you attempt to hack THEIR servers. The servers are Blizzard's property and hacking them, be it with unwarranted mods/cheats/hacks, you are basically breaking and entering into Blizzard's space.

 

[BlumiereBleck]

I don't care. Hackers get what they deserve.

Buy the game? You got the CD, the box it came in, and any information on said CD. The moment you rewrite and tamper with the coding and plan to sell/distribute the hacked coding, you are violating Blizzard's IP. Therefore you get busted.

Yup, you said it best

 

[The Procrastinated End]

Well hacking shouldn't be done so yay Blizzard for stomping out the idiots.

 

[SnootyEnglishman]

That's what they get. They're breaking the law and when you do that you are subject to whatever punishment the courts seem fit to give you. I applaud Blizzard for this because they're taking steps to make sure everyone enjoys their product.

 

[lacktheknack]

Maybe this will send a message to people who cheat and wreck the original intention of the game.

Or maybe they'll all scream bloody murder and leave. That would also be nice.

 

[Motiv_]

I think that saying these particular cheats "Destroy the SC2 experience" is a bit melodramatic, but otherwise, I don't see any problem with this lawsuit. Serves 'em right.

 

[thahat]

this, i find quite justified.
what i DONT find justified though, is that people who hack their singleplayer account, also get the hammer from blizzard. i mean seriously? get a grip blizzard.

 

[Irridium]

Are they being taken to court for multiplayer hacks or singleplayer hacks?

If multiplayer hacks, then, well thats kind of extreme. If they were just dicking around in custom games there shouldn't be a problem, but if they were actually hacking in competative play then yeah, I'd say they deserve it.

If its for those single player hackers, then what the hell? Is people getting achievements and pictures through hacks really worth taking them to court for?

 

[Squigie]

I don't care. Hackers get what they deserve.

Buy the game? You got the CD, the box it came in, and any information on said CD. The moment you rewrite and tamper with the coding and plan to sell/distribute the hacked coding, you are violating Blizzard's IP. Therefore you get busted.

Worse if you attempt to hack THEIR servers. The servers are Blizzard's property and hacking them, be it with unwarranted mods/cheats/hacks, you are basically breaking and entering into Blizzard's space.

Except for the part about selling you (and Blizzard) have exactly describe modding, a cherished and celebrated part of gaming, and that most holy of rights, the right to do damn near whatever one wants with the things one has bought.

So far I have not been able to find an article that specifies what the h4x in question actually do. If they are related to the recent mass banning then Blizzard is flipping out over single-player trainers, basing the allegation of destroying the mulitplayer experience on allowing achievements to be acquired illegitimately.

Begun, the cheevo wars have.

 

[masher]

This is Karma. Blizzard works hard to do what they do, of course they'd be a bit irked and hurt that a group of people went out of their way to humiliate Blizzard's hard work. I say they got what they deserved.

 

[Canid117]

They are defending my online game experience. Why should I be pissed about that?

 

[Atmos Duality]

"When users of the Hacks download, install, and use the Hacks, they copy StarCraft II copyrighted content into their computer's RAM in excess of the scope of their limited license, as set forth in the EULA and ToU, and create derivative works of StarCraft II."

Remember those words. They will come back to haunt the gaming industry, many many times in the future.

EDIT: Wow. That's the first time I missed a typo because of a sneeze before. No joke.

 

[Nevyrmoore]

"When users of the Hacks download, install, and use the Hacks, they copy StarCraft II copyrighted content into their computer's RAM in excess of the scope of their limited license, as set forth in the EULA and ToU, and create derivative works of StarCraft II."

Remember those words. They will come back to haunt to haunt the gaming industry, many many times in the future.

This. This could be a stepping stone towards preventing all modifications.

 

[Hosker]

They are getting what they deserve.

 

[MrDumpkins]

"When users of the Hacks download, install, and use the Hacks, they copy StarCraft II copyrighted content into their computer's RAM in excess of the scope of their limited license, as set forth in the EULA and ToU, and create derivative works of StarCraft II."

Remember those words. They will come back to haunt to haunt the gaming industry, many many times in the future.

This. This could be a stepping stone towards preventing all modifications.

I'm not liking where this could be going at all... not one bit.

Also, I thought the EULA couldn't hold you accountable for anything since you never signed it BEFORE purchasing the game.

 

[Nevyrmoore]

"When users of the Hacks download, install, and use the Hacks, they copy StarCraft II copyrighted content into their computer's RAM in excess of the scope of their limited license, as set forth in the EULA and ToU, and create derivative works of StarCraft II."

Remember those words. They will come back to haunt to haunt the gaming industry, many many times in the future.

This. This could be a stepping stone towards preventing all modifications.

I'm not liking where this could be going at all... not one bit.

Also, I thought the EULA couldn't hold you accountable for anything since you never signed it BEFORE purchasing the game.

That's a point, I wonder if this will be the time we'll finally see how well the EULA holds up in court?