Bungie Wins Landmark Lawsuit Against AimJunkies Over Destiny 2 Cheats

In a significant legal victory, Bungie, the developer of Destiny 2, has won a lawsuit against AimJunkies, a company that created and sold cheats for the game. A Seattle jury has ruled that the sale of these cheats constitutes a copyright violation, awarding Bungie $63,210 in damages.

Why this matters: This ruling sets a significant precedent for the gaming industry, potentially paving the way for other developers to take legal action against cheat-makers. This could lead to a decrease in cheating in online games, improving the overall gaming experience for players.

This ruling is notable as it is believed to be the first time a jury has found that a cheat creator infringed on a game company's copyright. Although the damages are relatively small, the decision sets a valuable precedent for the gaming industry, potentially paving the way for other developers to take similar legal actions against cheat-makers.

The lawsuit, initially filed in mid-2021, saw Bungie sue AimJunkies for $65,000, which was the estimated amount the company made from selling Destiny 2 cheats. The case took a surprising turn when AimJunkies countersued Bungie, claiming that the game developer infringed on their rights by snooping on their computer. However, the court finally ruled in favor of Bungie, citing the game's terms of service, which allow the developer to use certain methods to detect cheat software.

This legal battle has a complex history. In May 2022, the court initially ruled in favor of AimJunkies, dismissing Bungie's complaint. However, the court left room for amendments and agreed to submit some claims, including violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), to arbitration. In 2023, a DMCA violation was found, and AimJunkies was ordered to pay $4.3 million in damages, but the company appealed.

Despite the loss, Phoenix Digital founder David Schaefer plans to fight the decision, first by moving to dismiss the verdict and then by appealing if that fails. The AimJunkies website remains online, but the Destiny 2 cheats were removed from the online store years ago.

Bungie's lawyer expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating: "We are grateful for the diligence, professionalism, and care exercised by the Judge, his staff, and the Jury. We're committed to our players and will continue to protect them against cheats, including taking this and future cases all the way to trial."

This ruling comes amid a surge in lawsuits filed by developers and publishers against cheat providers. Activision Blizzard has been a prominent player in this space, securing multi-million-dollar reparation orders in similar cases. Despite these efforts, the number of people cheating in video games appears to be increasing.

The outcome of this case is likely to have far-reaching implications for the gaming industry, setting a precedent for how similar lawsuits can be applied in the future.

Key Takeaways

• Bungie wins lawsuit against AimJunkies, a Destiny 2 cheat seller, for copyright infringement.
• Jury awards Bungie $63,210 in damages, setting a precedent for the gaming industry.
• This is the first time a jury has found a cheat creator infringed on a game company's copyright.
• The ruling may lead to a decrease in cheating in online games, improving the gaming experience.
• The decision sets a valuable precedent for other developers to take legal action against cheat-makers.