Activision Blizzard Wins Landmark Lawsuit Against Cheat Provider

by Annabelle Stephenson
in Action, News
on 29 May 2024

Putting an end to a long-standing legal battle, Activision Blizzard emerged victorious in its lawsuit against cheat provider EngineOwning. The court ruled in favor of Activision Blizzard, ordering EngineOwning to pay a staggering $15 million in damages and legal fees. Additionally, the judge mandated that the EngineOwning domain be surrendered to Activision Blizzard.

The lawsuit revealed that EngineOwning’s cheat software had been downloaded 72,328 times in the United States alone. This, coupled with their constant efforts to circumvent Activision Blizzard’s anti-cheat systems, justified the substantial sum sought by the gaming giant. Attorney fees alone amounted to $292,912, highlighting the extent of the legal battle.

EngineOwning had been offering cheat solutions for popular games like Call of Duty, Counter-Strike, Battlefield, and Titanfall, among others. Their software also included a hardware ID spoofer, enabling cheaters to bypass anti-cheat measures, such as hardware bans.

While this victory is a significant blow to EngineOwning, it is unlikely to halt the activities of other cheat providers in the gaming industry. The cheating market continues to evolve, with new solutions emerging to replace those that are shut down.

Despite the ongoing battle against cheaters, Activision Blizzard remains committed to maintaining fair gameplay experiences for its community. The company’s efforts to combat cheating and protect the integrity of its games will undoubtedly continue.

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1. Activision Blizzard had previously filed a lawsuit against another cheat provider, GatorCheats, in February 2021, resulting in a settlement where GatorCheats agreed to pay $8 million in damages.
2. The lawsuit against EngineOwning was filed in June 2020, and the court proceedings lasted for over a year before reaching a verdict.
3. The $15 million in damages and legal fees awarded to Activision Blizzard is one of the largest sums ever ordered in a case involving cheat providers.
4. The EngineOwning domain being surrendered to Activision Blizzard means that the cheat provider will no longer be able to operate under that name or sell their cheat software.
5. Cheat providers like EngineOwning often face additional legal actions, such as DMCA takedown notices, from game publishers trying to protect their games from cheaters.

Key questions and answers:
1. What is the significance of Activision Blizzard’s victory in this lawsuit?
Activision Blizzard’s victory sends a strong message to cheat providers and serves as a deterrent to others who may engage in similar activities. It reinforces the company’s commitment to fair gameplay and protecting the integrity of its games.

2. Will this lawsuit completely eliminate cheating in Activision Blizzard games?
While this lawsuit is a significant blow to EngineOwning, it is unlikely to completely eliminate cheating in Activision Blizzard games or the gaming industry as a whole. Cheaters often find new ways to bypass anti-cheat systems, and other cheat providers may continue to offer their services.

3. What measures has Activision Blizzard taken to combat cheating?
Activision Blizzard has implemented various anti-cheat measures, including software algorithms and hardware bans, to detect and prevent cheating in their games. They also actively monitor and investigate reports of cheating from players.

Advantages:
1. The victory in this lawsuit serves as a strong deterrent to cheat providers and sends a message that cheating will not be tolerated by game publishers.
2. The substantial damages awarded can help deter cheat providers from engaging in illegal activities and compensate game publishers for the harm caused.

Disadvantages:
1. The ongoing battle against cheat providers requires significant resources and time from game publishers, diverting their attention from other aspects of game development and improvement.
2. Despite legal actions, cheat providers may continue to find ways to operate and offer cheat solutions, making it an ongoing challenge for game publishers to maintain fair gameplay experiences.