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US Court Orders Call of Duty Cheat Maker to Pay Activision Over $14 Million in Damages and Hand Over Domain Name

In a landmark ruling, the United States District Court of the Central District of California has ordered EngineOwning, a prominent video game cheat maker, to pay Activision over $14 million in damages and transfer its domain name. This decision marks a significant victory for Activision in its ongoing battle against video game cheats.

Legal Victory and Damages Awarded

Activision was awarded a substantial sum, including $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 mandated the transfer of its domain name, www.EngineOwning.to, to Activision.

"The court found this request reasonable given the circumstances," said Activision in a statement following the ruling.

Breakdown of the Damages

• Statutory Damages: $14,465,600
• Attorneys’ Fees: $292,912

Activision's request for damages was based on the minimum statutory damages of $200 under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), multiplied by the approximate number of downloads of the cheating software in the United States (72,328).

Ongoing Legal Battles

This ruling is not the first legal action taken against EngineOwning. In February 2023, a judge ruled that EngineOwning must pay Activision $3 million in damages after a lawsuit involving high-profile streamers using Warzone cheats. Despite this, EngineOwning continued its operations, selling cheats for games like Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone.

Impact on the Gaming Industry

Cheating has long plagued competitive multiplayer video games, with Call of Duty being heavily affected. Activision and other game publishers face significant challenges in combating cheat makers. This ruling aims to serve as a meaningful deterrent to future cheating activities.

"Activision hopes that rulings like this will serve as a meaningful deterrent as it prepares to release Black Ops 6 later this year," noted industry analysts.

Challenges in Enforcement

While the ruling is a significant victory, there are challenges in enforcing it. EngineOwning appears to operate outside the U.S., making it difficult for Activision to collect the awarded damages or gain control of the website.

"Ironically, due to international laws, the verdict from a lawsuit in the US is restricted to their borders, so the website continues to operate and sell cheats outside the region," pointed out legal experts.

Activision’s Continued Efforts

Activision has been proactive in its fight against cheating. Recently, the company announced 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. Accounts that boosted their progression in Ranked Play will be permanently restricted from accessing Ranked Play modes in Modern Warfare 3 and Warzone.

"Activision’s ongoing efforts to ensure fair play in its games by resetting and restricting accounts involved in cheating underscores the company's commitment to maintaining a fair gaming environment," said a spokesperson for Activision.

Conclusion

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. Activision’s court win against EngineOwning marks a significant step in the fight against video game cheating, but the road ahead remains challenging. As the industry continues to evolve, so too must the strategies to combat cheating and maintain fair play.

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