As Ubisoft delays upcoming games due to Ghost Recon Breakpoint’s disappointing launch, the publisher has simultaneously launched a lawsuit against MizuSoft for its cheat software hack for Rainbow Six Siege. The program (titled Budget Edition Rainbow Six: Siege Cheat) allowed players a range of special options that make them effectively overpowered and unbeatable. In a recent BBC interview, the 17-year-old Dutch hacker and supposed creator of the cheat -known only as J.V.L.- offhandedly mentioned, “if Ubisoft decides to come after you for copyright infringement, you’re in for a tough time.” Though he covered his face and went by the name ‘Lucas’ in the interview, Ubisoft has still seemingly discovered his identity and plans to take serious action against him.

Based out of the Central District of California, the lawsuit isn’t merely aimed at J.V.L. His mother, Sandra Rijken, is named for profiteering off of the cheat through her Simply San Web Design company. There is a multitude of other defendants named in the suit, as well, who were either directly or indirectly involved in the development and sale of the software. Despite the number of names on the suit, most of them are aliases and Discord usernames. It’s unclear exactly how Ubisoft plans to tackle the situation, but one thing is for sure: J.V.L. and his compatriots aren’t playing Siege anytime soon.

The lawsuit specifically notes:

MizuSoft’s main site has already been shut down as of October 24 saying simply that it will be “ceasing operations” with no other added info. The cheat’s cost was mindblowing, as the subscription-based payments going through Stripe were 11.99 euros a day, 29.99 euros a week, and 69.99 euros every month.

“Ubisoft is informed and believes, and on that basis alleges, that Defendants’ entire business is dedicated to creating, producing, marketing, distributing, and supporting the Cheating Software – which can be used only to cheat in R6S. Thus, Defendants’ business is wholly parasitic in nature and is entirely dependent upon causing harm to Ubisoft and its multiplayer community.”

The suit even brings up the BBC interview, noting:

With Rainbow Six Siege’s Halloween event adding a monster hunt game, it makes sense that Ubisoft would want to protect one of their largest online shooters (especially with a range of upcoming events on the books). Ubisoft is clearly cracking down on cheaters and they’re not the only ones, as evidenced by Rockstar’s protection of GTA Online and Niantic ridding Pokémon Go of parasitic players.

“Defendants know that trafficking in circumvention products such as the Cheating Software is unlawful and violates Section 1201 of the DMCA. As J.V.L. admitted on a BBC news segment: ‘if Ubisoft decides to come after you because of copyright infringement then you’re in for a tough time.’”

Going into the future, a more defensive mindset will be needed for Ubisoft to see an upsurge in its player base. This will be especially important what with a plentitude of upcoming games on its docket,

Source: ArsTechnica