Activision Wins Legal Battle Against Cheat Maker EngineOwning

by Frank McDougall
in News
on 29 May 2024

Activision, the popular gaming company, has emerged victorious in its legal case against cheat maker EngineOwning. The District Judge, Michael Fitzgerald, ordered EngineOwning and several other defendants to pay Activision a total of $14.465,600 for their involvement in creating and distributing cheats for the Call of Duty franchise.

Furthermore, the judge mandated that EngineOwning must relinquish control of its website, cease the production and sale of cheats, and pay $292,912 in attorney fees to Activision. Despite these orders, EngineOwning’s website, engineowning.to, is reportedly still operational, offering cheats such as aimbots and wallhacks for various games, including Call of Duty titles.

This legal victory follows Activision’s previous settlements with two individuals associated with EngineOwning, Ignacio Gayduchenko and Manuel Santiago, which resulted in a $3 million payout. However, the company initially filed lawsuits against several other individuals who failed to respond, leading to a default judgment in Activision’s favor.

In his ruling, Judge Fitzgerald found EngineOwning and its affiliated defendants guilty of violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. He also noted that EngineOwning intentionally encouraged players to purchase and utilize cheats, disregarding the terms of use set by Call of Duty.

The gaming industry has increasingly turned to legal measures to combat cheat creators. In a similar case, Bungie, the developer of Destiny 2, settled with cheat makers for $13.5 million. While cheats like AimJunkies had chosen to contest the charges, Bungie secured a smaller sum of $63,000 and achieved a favorable jury ruling.

As cheating remains a persistent issue within online gaming communities, companies like Activision and Bungie are determined to protect the integrity of their games. These legal victories serve as a warning to cheat makers and highlight the commitment of gaming companies to provide fair and enjoyable experiences for their players.

Additional facts:
– Activision is a leading video game publisher and developer, known for popular game franchises like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Overwatch.
– EngineOwning is a cheat maker that creates and distributes cheats for various video games, including Call of Duty titles.
– The cheats offered by EngineOwning include aimbots and wallhacks, which give players an unfair advantage in online multiplayer games.
– The District Judge, Michael Fitzgerald, presided over the legal case between Activision and EngineOwning.
– EngineOwning’s website, engineowning.to, is still operational despite the legal ruling against them.
– Activision previously settled with two individuals associated with EngineOwning, resulting in a $3 million payout.
– Activision initially filed lawsuits against multiple individuals involved with EngineOwning, but some of them failed to respond, leading to a default judgment in Activision’s favor.

Key questions:
1. What cheats did EngineOwning offer for Call of Duty games?
2. What legal violations were EngineOwning and its defendants found guilty of?
3. Why did EngineOwning’s website continue to operate despite the legal orders?
4. How much did Activision receive in total as a result of the legal victory?
5. Are cheat makers like EngineOwning being targeted by other gaming companies as well?

Key challenges or controversies:
1. The persistence of cheat makers and the availability of cheats for popular video games pose challenges to gaming companies in maintaining fair gameplay and protecting the integrity of their games.
2. The effectiveness of legal measures in deterring cheat makers and preventing the distribution of cheats remains a challenge.
3. The continued operation of EngineOwning’s website raises concerns about the enforcement of the court’s orders and the ability to shut down cheat distribution platforms.

Advantages:
1. The legal victory against EngineOwning sends a message to cheat makers by imposing significant financial penalties and forcing them to cease their cheat production and distribution.
2. The rulings in favor of Activision and other gaming companies help protect the gaming community by promoting fair play and discouraging cheating.
3. The commitment of gaming companies like Activision to combat cheating through legal means shows their dedication to providing a positive gameplay experience for their players.

Disadvantages:
1. Despite the legal victory, some cheat makers may continue to operate through alternative platforms, making it challenging for gaming companies to completely eradicate cheats.
2. The availability of cheats can undermine the enjoyment and competitiveness of online multiplayer games, potentially driving away legitimate players.
3. Legal battles against cheat makers can be time-consuming and expensive for gaming companies, diverting resources that could be used for other aspects of game development and maintenance.