Security News > 2022 > January > Activision Files Unusual Lawsuit over Call of Duty Cheat Codes

Activision, publisher of the enormously popular gaming franchise Call of Duty, has taken an extraordinary step to try and shut down cheat software by suing the popular site EngineOwning.

EO cheats for Call of Duty include "Aimbots" which automatically train the shooter's weapon on the opponent; "Triggerbots" that automatically fire at another player when they become visible on-screen; and a feature the lawsuit calls "ESP and 2D/3D Radar," which allows gamers to see opposing players through walls.

Cybersecurity researchers have also long noted the relationship between cybercrime and cheat codes - they offer an ideal conduit for launching malware on gamer machines.

EO is based in Germany, and Activision specifically names German residents EO chief Valentin Rick; Leonard Bugla, the operations administrator of EO during 2019 and 2020; and the alleged site moderator Leon Frisch - as well as other staffers accused of developing, distributing, coding, and even providing technical and customer support for the Call of Duty cheat software.

"This case is particularly interesting because the lawsuit was not only filed against the cheat provider EngineOwning, but also against individuals involved with the sale and development of the game cheats," Jake Williams, CTO with BreachQuest told Threatpost in reaction to the lawsuit.

For some idea of the scope of the damages sought, Activision reported in the court filing that the Call of Duty game franchise generated $3 billion in 2020 alone.

News URL

https://threatpost.com/activision-lawsuit-call-of-duty-cheat-codes/177443/