Fortnite Lawsuit: Epic Takes Action Against Cheat Seller and DDoS Attacker

Epic Games, the powerhouse behind the wildly popular battle royale sensation Fortnite, has officially confirmed its pursuit of legal action against two individuals. These actions stem from severe rule violations within the game, targeting one player for cheating and another for orchestrating widespread disruption through Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.

The gaming giant shared the news via its official Epic Games newsroom X (formerly Twitter) account. The statement clearly outlined the grounds for their legal recourse: “We took legal action against two people who cheated and broke our rules.” It elaborated further, specifying that “One sold and used cheats and the other carried out cyber attacks on content creators who were livestreaming gameplay (aka: DDoS attacks).”

The consequences for these actions are definitive. Both individuals have been issued court orders to cease their disruptive activities and face permanent bans from playing Fortnite. Epic Games emphasized a zero-tolerance policy,stating,”If you break the rules there are consequences.” the company also directed the Fortnite community to view direct messages from the penalized players, offering them a chance to hear the apologies firsthand.

Prominent among these apologies is a 25-second video from YouTuber Mirrored. In his mea culpa,Mirrored confessed to “cheating in Fortnite tournaments and selling and distributing cheats and hardware that enabled others to cheat.” He acknowledged his violation of Epic’s terms, the legal action taken against him, and the permanent ban he now faces, along with the threat of further legal repercussions should he resume distributing cheats.

Similarly, YouTuber Zebsi delivered a minute-long video apology, admitting to carrying out DDoS attacks under the alias “TTV Humpty.LLC.” Zebsi explicitly stated that these attacks disrupted Fortnite matches for streamers and other participants.He extended his sincere apologies for the “harm and damage” caused to streamers,fellow players,and Epic Games itself,confirming his accounts have been banned and expressing deep regret for his involvement in ddos activities.

While neither player has provided further details regarding the specifics of Epic’s legal actions or any other sanctions, these cases underscore Epic Games’ unwavering commitment to maintaining a fair and secure environment for its players. This move is a continuation of Epic’s broader strategy to combat cheating,which includes pursuing legal action against developers of cheat software and players caught engaging in illicit practices during professional tournaments,demonstrating a firm stance against those who undermine the integrity of the Fortnite experience.

How does Epic Games’ legal action against cheat sellers and DDoS attackers demonstrate their commitment to protecting the integrity of Fortnite?

Epic games Cracks Down on fortnite Cheating and Disruptive Attacks

Epic Games, the creator of the globally popular battle royale game Fortnite, has recently escalated its legal battles against individuals facilitating cheating and launching distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. These actions demonstrate Epic’s commitment to maintaining a fair and secure gaming environment for its millions of players. The lawsuits, filed in North Carolina, target both a seller of Fortnite cheats and an individual accused of orchestrating disruptive DDoS attacks. This isn’t a new strategy for epic; they’ve consistently pursued legal action against those who compromise the integrity of Fortnite.

Details of the Lawsuit Against the Cheat Seller

The lawsuit against the cheat seller, identified as brandon Anderson, alleges violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and breach of contract. Anderson is accused of developing and selling unauthorized software – Fortnite hacks and cheats – that provide unfair advantages to players, such as aimbots and wallhacks.

Here’s a breakdown of the key allegations:

DMCA Violation: The cheats are considered circumvention technology, bypassing Epic’s security measures designed to protect the game’s code.

Breach of Contract: Players agree to Epic’s End User license Agreement (EULA), which prohibits the use of unauthorized software.

Financial Gain: Anderson allegedly profited substantially from the sale of these cheats, undermining Epic’s revenue streams.

Impact on Gameplay: Cheating ruins the competitive balance of Fortnite, frustrating legitimate players and potentially driving them away from the game.

Epic is seeking monetary damages and a permanent injunction preventing anderson from further developing or distributing Fortnite cheats. This case highlights the ongoing struggle against Fortnite hacking and the lengths Epic will go to protect its intellectual property.

The DDoS Attack and Legal Response

Concurrently, Epic filed suit against an individual, identified as Matthew Hayes, accused of launching DDoS attacks against Epic’s servers. These attacks aimed to disrupt Fortnite gameplay, causing server outages and impacting players worldwide.

Key aspects of this legal action include:

Disruption of Service: ddos attacks overwhelm servers with traffic, making them inaccessible to legitimate users.

Intentional Harm: The lawsuit alleges Hayes intentionally disrupted Fortnite services, causing meaningful financial and reputational damage to Epic.

Criminal Activity: DDoS attacks are frequently enough considered criminal offenses, carrying potential jail time and hefty fines.

Server Infrastructure Costs: Epic incurred costs to mitigate the attacks and strengthen its server infrastructure.

Epic is seeking damages to cover the costs associated with mitigating the DDoS attacks and preventing future incidents. This action sends a clear message that disrupting Fortnite services will not be tolerated.

Why Epic is Taking Such Strong Action

Epic’s aggressive legal stance is driven by several factors:

protecting Player Experience: Maintaining a fair and enjoyable gaming experience is paramount. Cheating and disruptions directly harm player satisfaction.

Preserving competitive Integrity: Fortnite‘s competitive scene, including tournaments and prize pools, relies on a level playing field. Cheating undermines this integrity.

Safeguarding Revenue Streams: Cheating and disruptions can negatively impact player engagement and in-game purchases, affecting Epic’s revenue.

Deterrence: Legal action serves as a deterrent to others considering similar malicious activities.

Brand Reputation: Protecting the Fortnite brand and maintaining its positive image is crucial for long-term success.

The Broader Context: Anti-Cheat Measures in Fortnite

These lawsuits are part of a larger effort by Epic Games to combat cheating and improve security in Fortnite. Beyond legal action, Epic has implemented several in-game anti-cheat measures:

Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC): A third-party anti-cheat system integrated into Fortnite to detect and ban cheaters.

Regular Updates: Frequent game updates address vulnerabilities and improve security protocols.

Community Reporting: Players can report suspected cheaters, helping Epic identify and investigate potential violations.

Hardware Bans: In severe cases, Epic issues hardware bans, preventing cheaters from accessing the game on specific devices.

Zero Build Mode: The introduction of Zero Build mode, removing building mechanics, has reduced some forms of cheating related to complex building exploits.

Recent Developments: Fortnite Returns to Apple Devices

Interestingly,coinciding with these legal actions,Fortnite has recently made a return to Apple’s iPhone and iPad platforms after a five-year absence (as of March 2024). This return, facilitated by changes to Apple’s policies, underscores Epic’s continued efforts to broaden access to Fortnite while simultaneously protecting the game’s integrity. This demonstrates Epic’s ability to navigate complex legal and business landscapes.

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