Blizzard Sues Overwatch Cheats Developer, Citing Copyright Infringement

Looks like Blizzard are not going to stand for anything that threatens the integrity of Overwatch, their latest hit, at all- apparently, they are suing the German company Bossland GMBH, at a federal court in California, for the ‘Watchover Tyrant’ cheat that the company has made for Overwatch. The cheat allows players who buy and enable it to play with multiple unfair advantages.

“[Bossland’s] sale and distribution of the Bossland Hacks in the United States has caused Blizzard to lose millions or tens of millions of dollars in revenue, and to suffer irreparable damage to its goodwill and reputation,” Blizzard say in their suit. “Moreover, by releasing Overwatch Cheat just days after the release of Overwatch, Defendants are attempting to destroy or irreparably harm that game before it even has had a chance to fully flourish.”

Blizzard’s grounds for a lawsuit against Bossland seem to primarily be copyright infringement, which Blizzard go to great lengths to explain and highlight.

“They have done so by enabling and encouraging third-party ‘freelancers’ or contractors to fraudulently obtain access to the Blizzard Games and then, having done so, to engage in unauthorized reproduction of the Blizzard Games,” Blizzard said. “They also have done so by enabling users of the Bossland Hacks (particularly the Overwatch Cheat) to use the software to create derivative works, such as the dynamic screen overlay generated by the Overwatch Cheat,” it adds.

Blizzard are apparently seeking damages, noting that there are thousands of cheaters already (although they also note that Blizzard are engaged in taking action against these cheaters).

“Defendants not only know that their conduct is unlawful, but they engage in that conduct with the deliberate intent to harm Blizzard and its business. Blizzard is entitled to monetary damages, injunctive and other equitable relief, and punitive damages against Defendants,” the complaint reads.

So- looks like Overwatch is serious business. Although I do have to ask what kind of a company would sell cheats for a primarily multiplayer game, and what kinds of players would use them, knowing full well that cheats would ruin other players’ enjoyment, and that Blizzard would be entitled to respond to someone messing with their game.

Overwatch is available now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.