Legal developments in the world of video games have taken an interesting turn as Bungie, known for their popular game franchises, has raised copyright claims against a group of cheat code sellers. A federal judge in Seattle, dealing with the case, instructed the jury that the defendants intentionally destroyed evidence. This was done by deleting records that should have been preserved when they became aware of Bungie’s claims against them.
The records in question are presently undisclosed due to the ongoing nature of the trial. The judge’s instructions to the jury, however, place substantial weight on the premise that the defendants had a clear duty to preserve these records once they learnt of Bungie’s claims, thereby implying a level of unintentional wrong-doing.
Cases like this, dealing with copyright claims in the gaming industry, are of increasing importance, as they tackle untested waters and establish legal precedent. The nuances of this case and the follow up could have significant impact on the shape of intellectual property laws, particularly within the gaming industry.
For more details, you can read the article.