Copyright Infringement
Ongoing coverage on Copyright Infringement.
Latest coverage
Blizzard Shuts Down Popular WoW Private Server Stormforge
Blizzard Entertainment has shut down the popular World of Warcraft private server Stormforge following legal action. The server operators announced the closure after receiving a Cease and Desist request, noting 'positive discussions' with Blizzard's legal team. This action is part of Blizzard's broader effort to protect its intellectual property and maintain control over its game's ecosystem.
Turtle WoW classic server announces shutdown after Blizzard wins injunction
The popular World of Warcraft private server, Turtle WoW, has announced its complete shutdown following a legal battle with Blizzard Entertainment. A judge ruled in Blizzard's favor regarding copyright infringement, leading to a settlement that required the closure of the project after an 8-year run. Developer Torta expressed gratitude for the community's support.
World of Warcraft rogue server TurtleWoW has announced its sunset following court agreement
The World of Warcraft rogue server TurtleWoW has announced it will shut down on May 14th, following a court agreement with Blizzard Entertainment. Donations have ceased, and the server's website and social media will be taken offline in October. This action aligns with the cease and desist order issued against the server operators.
White House Tweets Criticized
Japan's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Toshimitsu Motegi, criticized the White House for using footage from Nintendo's Wii Sports without authorization in a social media post. The incident highlights concerns over intellectual property usage in political messaging.
White House uses Wii Sports to promote Iran War and Japan is not happy
The White House has faced criticism, including from Japan's Foreign Minister, for using copyrighted video game footage, specifically from Wii Sports, in propaganda videos promoting military operations. Nintendo has remained silent, though other companies like Microsoft have also seen their games used in similar contexts without comment. The article also touches on politicians using video game metaphors in public addresses.
Anna's Archive told to pay Spotify and record labels $322 million over unprecedented music scraping
Anna's Archive, an open-source library and search engine, has been ordered by a New York federal judge to pay $322 million in damages to Spotify and three major record labels for illegally scraping and intending to distribute millions of songs. The court found Anna's Archive guilty of direct copyright infringement and breach of contract, ordering the destruction of all scraped music files.
Temu-tier Palworld imitator Pickmon changes a single title letter 'to better align with our brand identity' and definitely not for any other reason, guys, honest
The creature-collecting survival game Pickmon, developed by NetworkGo, has been renamed Pickmos after changing a single letter in its title. The publisher claims the change is to better align with its brand identity and lore, though the move comes amid scrutiny for its visual similarities to existing games like Pokémon and Palworld, and potential legal concerns from Nintendo.
World of Warcraft rogue server TurtleWoW agrees to end operations in court settlement
Blizzard Entertainment has reached a court settlement with the operators of the World of Warcraft rogue server TurtleWoW, mandating the immediate and permanent cessation of all operations. The agreement follows a copyright infringement lawsuit filed by Blizzard last year. While Blizzard may pursue damages, the operators are legally bound to shut down the server, despite ongoing discussions among players about its future.
Popular World Of Warcraft Private Server Turtle WoW Ordered To Cease And Desist
Blizzard Entertainment has successfully obtained a cease and desist order against the popular World of Warcraft private server, Turtle WoW, following a legal battle over copyright infringement. The settlement, reached after a judge ruled in Blizzard's favor, mandates the immediate and permanent cessation of the private server's operation and distribution. While the settlement details are confidential, Blizzard plans to file for dismissal of the case by June 2026.
Fan World of Warcraft servers face shut down as Blizzard wins Turtle WoW case
Activision Blizzard has won a copyright infringement lawsuit against the fan-operated private server network Turtle WoW. The District Court of California ruled in favor of Blizzard, ordering an immediate cease and desist for Turtle WoW and any successor projects. While a settlement has been reached, the ruling effectively signals the end for the third-party server group.
Evening Legal Briefs
The Supreme Court of the United States has overturned a ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. The original ruling had instructed Internet Service Providers to disconnect customers found to be engaging in piracy. Ars Technica reported on the decision.
Italian television channel does DLSS 5 haters a favor by broadcasting footage from reveal trailer, then copyright…
Italian television channel La7 issued a copyright strike against Nvidia's DLSS 5 reveal trailer, claiming ownership of the content despite the trailer being released weeks prior. The footage was temporarily unavailable in Italy due to the claim, highlighting potential abuses of YouTube's Content ID system. The claim was later released, and the trailer is now viewable again.
Three YouTubers accuse Apple of illegal scraping to train its AI models
Three YouTubers have filed a class action lawsuit against Apple, accusing the company of illegally scraping copyrighted videos from YouTube to train its AI models. The creators allege Apple circumvented platform controls and that its success relies on content like theirs. Similar lawsuits have been filed by these channels against Meta, Nvidia, ByteDance, and Snap, while Apple itself faces other legal challenges regarding AI training data.
Morning Legal Briefs
The US Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that internet service providers like Cox Communications are not liable for their users' copyright infringement. This decision clarifies legal responsibility in cases of online piracy.
Supreme Court overturns Cox v Sony Music verdict holding ISPs liable for user copyright infringement
The Supreme Court unanimously ruled 9-0 in the Cox v Sony Music case, overturning the previous verdict. The new ruling states that Internet Service Providers must have knowledge and intent to be held liable for user copyright infringement.
Supreme Court rules ISPs aren't liable for subscribers' music piracy
The Supreme Court ruled that Cox Communications is not liable for copyright infringement committed by its subscribers, reversing a lower court decision. Justice Clarence Thomas stated that an internet service provider is only liable if it actively encouraged or intended the infringement, not for merely providing a service. This decision clarifies ISP liability in cases of digital piracy by their users.
Supreme Court ruling may protect ISPs from copyright claims
The United States Supreme Court has ruled that Internet Service Providers (ISPs) are only liable for copyright infringement if they intentionally facilitate it. In the case of Cox Communications v. Sony Music Entertainment, the court determined that Cox was not liable as they neither induced nor tailored their service for infringement. This decision may reduce the pressure on ISPs to police user piracy.
First Grammarly cloned me without permission. Then another AI company asked if it could do the same—for $2,000
The author discusses personal experiences with AI companies like Grammarly and GPTZero cloning their identity and work without permission. This raises significant concerns about AI ethics, copyright infringement, and the existential threat AI poses to writers and artists, particularly regarding the unauthorized use of creative work for training AI models.
Switch modders arrested for selling consoles with ‘improved' performance
Four individuals in Japan have been arrested for modifying and selling Nintendo Switch consoles, claiming improved performance and the ability to play pirated games. The group allegedly modified 45 consoles and sold 15, earning between approximately £2,837 and £4,256. The arrests stem from Nintendo's consultation with the Kyoto Prefectural Police, with the primary offense being potential violation of Japan's Trademark Act.
Morning Legal Briefs
ByteDance has been urged by senators to immediately cease operations of its Seedance AI video application. Separately, Encyclopedia Britannica has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging copyright infringement related to the use of its content.