Activision: Protecting Its Warzone From Cheats...with The Law! (VL302)

Activision and Infinity Ward's free-to-play Call of Duty Battle Royale, Warzone, has been, by all accounts, a massive success. Well, by all accounts except one, perhaps - the prevalence of cheating and cheaters.

Now, as Warzone players have become more and more frustrated, Activision has taken legal action against at least one of the companies building and distributing Warzone cheats. It turns out those terms of service (and all that copyright law) *are* good for something after all.

War. War never cheats...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/X4QHRRvhsjU

#CallofDuty #Warzone #Cheaters

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Discussed in this episode:

"Cheat seller ceases Call of Duty hacks following Activision lawsuit"
PC Gamer - August 30, 2020 - Jonathan Bolding
https://www.pcgamer.com/cheat-seller-ceases-call-of-duty-hack-sales-following-activision-lawsuit/

"Activision suing popular hacking installation website"
Reddit Thread - August 30, 2020
https://www.reddit.com/r/CODWarzone/comments/ij93zy/activision_suing_popular_hacking_installation/

"TERMS OF USE"
Activision Website - Updated January 6, 2017
https://www.activision.com/legal/terms-of-use

"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Security and Enforcement Policy"
Activision Website - October 24, 2019
https://support.activision.com/modern-warfare/articles/call-of-duty-modern-warfare-security-and-enforcement-policy

"Exclusive rights in copyrighted works"
17 USC 106
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/106

"Reading Final Fantasy VII's Streaming Restrictions (VL199)"
YouTube Video - March 31, 2020 - Hoeg Law
https://youtu.be/HF7RO5HAHvc

"Infinity Ward Addresses Warzone's Biggest Questions - Duos, Season 4, and More"
COD Tracker Website - May 3, 2020
https://cod.tracker.gg/modern-warfare/articles/infinity-ward-warzone-duos-cheating-season-4

"Warzone players remain frustrated by cheaters even after Infinity Ward asked everyone to please stop cheating"
PC Gamer - August 2020 - Aron Garst
https://www.pcgamer.com/warzone-players-remain-frustrated-by-cheaters-even-after-infinity-ward-asked-everyone-to-please-stop-cheating/

"Circumvention of copyright protection systems"
17 USC 1201
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/1201

"Criminal offenses and penalties"
17 USC 1204
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/1204

"Civil remedies"
17 USC 1203
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/17/1203

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"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law).

CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

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Twitter: @hoeglaw
Web: hoeglaw.com
Blog: hoeglaw.wordpress.com