It seems pretty strange that they can do this. How does copyright even apply here, other than for the defendant? If I buy a book, I now own the artifact 100% and the first sale doctrine would tend to indicate that nobody else can tell me what to do with that book (with the caveat that I can't make more copies - the whole point of copyright).

So these folks bought a book and have figured out how to cut out a page and glue in another one. Seems totally OK.

Now they're selling a kit that helps you "mod" your book by teaching you how to cut out a page and replace it with another one. Still no problems IMO.

Could someone prevent you from running a service where someone mails you a book, you cut out some pages and replace them, and then mail it back? I don't think so.

These aren't great analogies obviously. But it's hard to understand how they have standing given that they sold the copies of the game already. Seems like they'd have better luck going on some kind of contractual violation like their EULA or their agreement you have to subject yourself to in order to connect to the game servers.

Putting the lawsuit under "Copyright infringement" is a strange choice, but I have to agree that fighting cheaters in video games is a good fight.

In one hand, the user should have ownership of their computer, and what happens in it. The user should not be prevented from testing and modifying whatever occurs in their memory, in the same way, I can load Adblock, or Reddit Enhancement Suit, to make my experience on a website better.

On the other hand, online gaming has become a sport. Having cheaters in-game is almost like bicycle racers using enchantment drugs for a competition. I would hate to lose a bicycle race for having another athlete using illegal unhealthy drugs, as I would have to lose an online game for other players paying hundreds of dollars for a significant unfair advantage.

For me, there should be a new kind of law that would cover gaming cheating behavior under unfair gameplay. Users are detracting from the experience from the other players, who are playing the game on an even playing ground.

I find GTV 5's strategy particular interesting, that instead of banning cheaters in online servers from playing, they just moved players to a "cheaters pool," in which cheaters can play with other cheaters. It still allows everyone to play the game, but now they are put up against other players who also have an unfair advantage, and have to compete for a better strategy.

This reminds me of a court case a decade ago when Blizzard sued the creator of a popular World of Warcraft botting program called MMOGlider on the grounds of copyright infringement. Blizzard won and was awarded $6m. Not a lawyer, but maybe there's some legal precedent?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7645059.stm

Good for Epic. Distributing hacks like this actively harms the game experience for everyone else and damages Epic's brand and business. It's not so dissimilar from DDoSing a SaaS company and encouraging others to do the same.

"Copyright infringement" maybe should stick if they hacks include reproductions of Epic's code, but "breach of contract and tortious interference" is a load of horse shit. Game EULAs are not the law.

Wow, he’s selling the cheats for nearly $300, that’s not exactly a kid with a lemonade stand.

I'm a bit perplexed anyone would pay that much money just to cheat in a videogame. What's the point? Are they just really sore losers with too much money? Do they get any money back from cheating?

Does client-injection count as modifying Epic's code?. I'm impressed with how well this guy has monetized all of his channels by selling this stuff.

The title is quite deceptive (not HN's fault, but I guess I shouldn't be surprised given TorrentFreak's calibre).

'Magical' powers = he was selling cheats.

That is not a comment on the substance of Epic's claims against these people; just on the clickbaity phrasing.

Can't they just fix their game to make the cheats stop working? I'm sure many of his customers would be mad at him for this.

Instead of going after the cheaters/cheat makers, maybe they should have better cheat detection and harsher punishments.

They should be giving bug bounties instead!

Suing teenage brats is not an appropriate use of our legal system. I'm not sure of the policy implications but if someone brings an obviously frivolous suit they should pay a large fine. The legal system is being used to bully rather than dispense justice.