Fortnite Developers Sue 14 year old cheater
Well, okay, cheaters probably do win at times. But, when you're caught, good luck, actually bad luck - you deserve it
Anyone remember the day of "cheat codes"? Yeah, they were pretty harmless in general. But this is something
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article216246680.html
Epic wants the judge to issue an injunction that bars Rogers from cheating, and that orders not just the deletion of any cheat software he has but any of any his videos that show cheating in “Fortnite.” The company is also seeking damages and attorney’s fees.
Anyone remember the day of "cheat codes"? Yeah, they were pretty harmless in general. But this is something
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article216246680.html
Epic wants the judge to issue an injunction that bars Rogers from cheating, and that orders not just the deletion of any cheat software he has but any of any his videos that show cheating in “Fortnite.” The company is also seeking damages and attorney’s fees.
Comments
I do feel that this is a little bit extreme. Although it is pretty crappy to use cheats in an online game, I feel like a ban will solve that issue. To add, it's not like he's cheating to get the in game currency, which is where they make their money. The problem here is that if this goes through, I feel like other companies will follow suit. Ultimately, I feel like this is kind of a petty case.
Yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup.
I think a ban would have sufficed.
I do feel that this is a little bit extreme. Although it is pretty crappy to use cheats in an online game, I feel like a ban will solve that issue. To add, it's not like he's cheating to get the in game currency, which is where they make their money. The problem here is that if this goes through, I feel like other companies will follow suit. Ultimately, I feel like this is kind of a petty case.
As to whether this is "overkill" is debatable. The more I read about this, the more I side with the developers
Also, this is not about him just cheating, it's about violating user agreements and continuously showing others how to cheat. In principle, such cheating can greatly hurt Fortnite and it's not as if he was just sued. He was told multiple time stop. A ban would NOT have stopped him.
https://www.polygon.com/2017/11/27/16705184/epic-games-suing-fortnite-cheaters-minor-14-years-old
In a remarkable seven-minute video, Rogers first admits that he broke Fortnite’s rules and then blames Epic Games for holding him accountable. “I was basically cheating in the game Fortnite,” Rogers said, after which he proceeds to plug the website where he downloaded the cheat multiple times. His ad hoc defense is that the cheats are freely available and “fucking everywhere.” Therefore, Rogers said, his actions should be excused...Epic Games said that the lawsuit stems not from Rogers using the cheat but for publishing what amounts to a how-to guide promoting it on his YouTube channel. When Epic Games issued a DMCA takedown notice, Rogers chose to contest it. That puts Epic in the position of having to push back to protect its own rights.
I do feel that this is a little bit extreme. Although it is pretty crappy to use cheats in an online game, I feel like a ban will solve that issue. To add, it's not like he's cheating to get the in game currency, which is where they make their money. The problem here is that if this goes through, I feel like other companies will follow suit. Ultimately, I feel like this is kind of a petty case.
As to whether this is "overkill" is debatable. The more I read about this, the more I side with the developers
https://www.polygon.com/2017/11/2...
In a remarkable seven-minute video, Rogers first admits that he broke Fortnite's rules and then blames Epic Games for holding him accountable. "I was basically cheating in the game Fortnite," Rogers said, after which he proceeds to plug the website where he downloaded the cheat multiple times. His ad hoc defense is that the cheats are freely available and "fucking everywhere." Therefore, Rogers said, his actions should be excused...Epic Games said that the lawsuit stems not from Rogers using the cheat but for publishing what amounts to a how-to guide promoting it on his YouTube channel. When Epic Games issued a DMCA takedown notice, Rogers chose to contest it. That puts Epic in the position of having to push back to protect its own rights.
I saw before your edit, I don't think he made the cheats... If he did, that's completely different, that's pretty bad. However, I feel like the whole idea of copyright infringement is a bit different. I guess it comes down to whether or not it can be considered a derivative work, which I do not believe it could. Where's BazookaJoe, he could provide some neat insight.
Edit: on top of that, I feel like it is a bit silly unless he was making money off of the cheating.
I do feel that this is a little bit extreme. Although it is pretty crappy to use cheats in an online game, I feel like a ban will solve that issue. To add, it's not like he's cheating to get the in game currency, which is where they make their money. The problem here is that if this goes through, I feel like other companies will follow suit. Ultimately, I feel like this is kind of a petty case.
As to whether this is "overkill" is debatable. The more I read about this, the more I side with the developers
https://www.polygon.com/2017/11/27/16705184/epic-games-suing...
In a remarkable seven-minute video, Rogers first admits that he broke Fortnite's rules and then blames Epic Games for holding him accountable. "I was basically cheating in the game Fortnite," Rogers said, after which he proceeds to plug the website where he downloaded the cheat multiple times. His ad hoc defense is that the cheats are freely available and "fucking everywhere." Therefore, Rogers said, his actions should be excused...Epic Games said that the lawsuit stems not from Rogers using the cheat but for publishing what amounts to a how-to guide promoting it on his YouTube channel. When Epic Games issued a DMCA takedown notice, Rogers chose to contest it. That puts Epic in the position of having to push back to protect its own rights.
I saw before your edit, I don't think he made the cheats... If he did, that's completely different, that's pretty bad. However, I feel like the whole idea of copyright infringement is a bit different. I guess it comes down to whether or not it can be considered a derivative work, which I do not believe it could. Where's BazookaJoe, he could provide some neat insight.
Edit: on top of that, I feel like it is a bit silly unless he was making money off of the cheating.
According to the lawsuit (and from the polygon article I included above)
Epic claims these two groups each “created, developed, and/or wrote a software cheat”
Also, no offense to anyone, but it doesn't mean a thing if you feel it was "silly" or whatnot. The point is the cheater was violating a contract, he was distributing software that could hurt Fortnite financially, he was asked to take his videos/software down. He refused, and is now apparently surprised there is consequence to his actions??
According to the lawsuit (and from the polygon article I included above)
Epic claims these two groups each “created, developed, and/or wrote a software cheat”
Also, no offense to anyone, but it doesn't mean a thing if you feel it was "silly" or whatnot. The point is the cheater was violating a contract, he was distributing software that could hurt Fortnite financially, he was asked to take his videos/software down. He refused, and is now apparently surprised there is consequence to his actions??
The full quote that you had:
That was a bit cherry-picked, if you read a bit up there, he is not part of the group associated with creating it, rather a user. Like I said, for me it comes down to whether or not he made money off of it or if there is some sort of financial incentive. If Epic Games truly did lose money because some punk kid promoted a cheating platform, go for it. But what I'm saying is I'm not sure if a copyright claims is the way to go. But at the end of the day, whatever, kid made some dumb choices and is facing the music. I guess we will see how this will pan out. I just don't see how Epic Games is going to get money out of a 14-year old. I can't speak for everyone, but I was broke as a 14-year old. I guess what I'm saying is I feel like they are just showing that they are being greedy by suing the pants out of what is essentially a kid. I'm just gonna leave it as that.
Although god dammit I just Googled myself and someone with the same name as me was accused of sexual assault in Chicago. Damn it dude!
Probably just some scare tactic to get people to stop CHEATIN.
You don't get cool points with gaming/metal target demo by being old, out of touch and litigious...
Reminds me of the mpaa/riaa and Metallica in the 90s.
You don't get cool points with gaming/metal target demo by being old, out of touch and litigious...
Man, I agree with that. If cheating is a problem, you ban people, or fix your code or otherwise innovate to stop it. I thought I respected Epic from the old days but this is really lame. Developers used to appreciate people going through their work and pushing limits. IDDQD. But from what I hear Fortnite is stupid easy, so why does anybody even give a shit?
There have been some interesting and to me slightly more nuanced cases though like that guy that built tools to expand in game photography on (I think) some Tom Clancey game. Honestly the renders he produced got me interested in the game even though I had ignored the series since ghost recon.
I think offline and non-multiplayer cheating can serve as an important introduction to the world of software development and debugging too in a way that keeps people interested.
Can you even sue a 14 year old?? Or does the burden fall on his parents?? Im no lawyer for sure but just the little bit I read on here seems like he could put that kind of effort towards marketing for them XD
I think at 14 it can go either way, they can try him as an adult if they want.
But I googled this when the thread came up and nothing has been updated for a year so I want to say it went nowhere.