Take 2 Demands $150,000 From 'GTA Online' Modder For Damages

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Rockstar Games' has been raging war against some prominent modders in the Grand Theft Auto Online community recently. And that war has hit another flashing point.

Back in June of last year, Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games struck down Open IV, which wasn't well received by the game's community, but the pair have continued since then striking out against certain types of modding, especially mod menus.

Earlier this year in August, Take-Two filed a lawsuit aimed at Jhonny Perez, a GTA Online modder out of Florida. At the time, the massive media company claimed that Perez had breached Copyright infringements by creating and selling mods for the game that were designed to grief players and ruin the online experience.

The controversial modding software was dubbed "Elusive," and was sold anywhere between $10-30.

According to Take-Two Interactive, this was another issue: Perez was making a profit off Take-Two's property without its permission, and while breaking the customer agreement.

A specific number of how much money Perez made off "Elusive," isn't clear, but Take-Two estimates that the harm caused is roughly half a million dollars. Apparently, Take-Two tried to reach a settlement with the modder previously, but Perez eventually stopped cooperating with the company. And thus legal action is being taken.

The lawsuit, which was submitted to the NY Federal Court asking for $150,000 (the maximum amount), is also to serve as a deterrent to other modders who are creating evasive mods that negatively impact the game's experience for other players.

In addition to seeking $150,000, Take-Two has requested their attorney fees are covered -- $69,686 worth of fees -- and that the modder in question be ruled to stop making mods for Take-Two titles.

Personally, while it seems harsh to come down on a modder in this fashion, Take-Two has the right to protect its product and those that break agreements and copyright. From the sounds of it, the company tried to settle the matter without bringing it to the law of the land, but that didn't work out. From the sounds of it -- Take-Two doesn't have an issue with mods generally, just ones that negatively impact their product specifically.

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Related Forum: Grand Theft Auto Forum

Source: https://comicbook.com/gaming/2018/12/08/gta-online-mod-rockstar-games-lawsuit-modder/

Comments

"Take 2 Demands $150,000 From 'GTA Online' Modder For Damages" :: Login/Create an Account :: 12 comments

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coolbunny1234Posted:

That is a hell of a lot of money from a modder, I wonder how much he actually profited off of this?

MazePosted:

812spencer
Maze Even though they have every right to do this, it's just plain dumb. How much money do they make off just microtransactions? They need 200k from this guy for finding an exploit in their game, that with all their money, couldn't figure out how to stop it?


That's not the point, the point is he infringed on their property and made a profit off of it.


That's why I say they have every right to do this. But in the long haul, for a company that has sold close to 100 million copies of this game, and who knows how many shark cards, $150,000 doesn't seem like a much money to them, but they are probably bankrupting this guy to prove a point.

MikePosted:

Thats a Crazy Punishments

PoyumaPosted:

Silky Seems a tad too far for me. Stop the software and the guy distrusting and that should be it, not then go on to take him to court for that much money.


The guy was SELLING the mod. The guy knew exactly what he was doing and honestly I have no sympathy for him, ruining a good game and profiting from it in the process.

Mario350Posted:

good kids deserve to owe for ruining online gameplay, also you arent allowed to sell mods anyways as its breaks the copy right laws so all modders deserve it

FutivesPosted:

Thats a lot. I can understand Take2 but it doesn't look like they tried to settle at all. Why would he stop cooperating?

SilkyPosted:

Seems a tad too far for me. Stop the software and the guy distrusting and that should be it, not then go on to take him to court for that much money.

GhostPosted:

I feel for him, needs support

S7Posted:

This is insane, I mean this seems like stupid amount of money to get the guy for finding an exploit in their game. Instead sueing him why dont they all work together to create blocks so this doesnt continue to happen?

BFVPosted:

Maze Even though they have every right to do this, it's just plain dumb. How much money do they make off just microtransactions? They need 200k from this guy for finding an exploit in their game, that with all their money, couldn't figure out how to stop it?


Rules are rules, but I see your point of view.