Key Points:
- Activision awarded $14.5 million in damages from cheat maker EngineOwning.
- EngineOwning must cease operations and surrender its website to Activision.
- The ruling includes an additional $292,912 in attorney fees for Activision.
In a landmark victory, Activision has successfully concluded its prolonged legal battle against EngineOwning, a notorious cheat software distributor, securing a $14.5 million judgment. The lawsuit, initiated over two years ago, culminated in District Judge Michael Fitzgerald’s decisive ruling that mandates EngineOwning to compensate Activision for damages incurred due to the creation and dissemination of cheats for Call of Duty and other online shooters.
Activision’s lawsuit emphasized the detrimental impact of EngineOwning’s activities on its player base and the violation of its terms of service. Despite being fully aware of these violations, EngineOwning continued its operations, prompting Activision to intensify its efforts to combat such illicit activities. The company has implemented various anti-cheat measures over the years, including innovative tactics in Warzone that rendered cheaters powerless. Yet, these technological defenses, though effective, needed the reinforcement of legal action to achieve a more permanent resolution.
Beyond the substantial monetary compensation, the court’s order compels EngineOwning to transfer control of its website to Activision and to permanently halt the production and sale of cheat software. Additionally, EngineOwning is liable for $292,912 in attorney fees, further underscoring the comprehensive nature of this legal victory.
This isn’t the first financial setback for EngineOwning; last year, the courts mandated a $3 million payment to Activision for similar infractions. However, their continued defiance led to the present, more severe judgment, signaling a potentially terminal blow to their operations.
