Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.

Deus Ex Leak Ends in Lawsuit

This article is over 13 years old and may contain outdated information
image

Pirates used an Italian journalist’s credentials to grab game files.

Square Enix has busted out its lawyers on the people responsible for leaking a preview of Deus Ex: Human Revolution earlier this year. The build was intended to only be seen by the press, but ended up on torrent sites in late May.

The publisher’s complaint named “Does 1-15” as the defendants, as Square Enix didn’t know their real names. The suit described how the game ended up online, with the unnamed defendants downloading it from Steam using an Italian journalist’s credentials and then uploaded the files to torrent sites. The suit said that the IP address used for the download did not match the one used by the journalist, or any associated with the journalist’s publication, GMC. Square Enix stated that it had suffered damages in excess of $5,000 thanks to lost sales, and was seeking an unspecified sum in restitution.

While Square Enix is apparently not happy about the leak, it’s thought that it benefitted from it. The leak allowed Deus Ex fans, who were skeptical about whether Eidos Montreal could possibly make a worthy successor to the original, to see the game and assuage their fears. Some even speculated that Square Enix had orchestrated the link itself to generate excitement about the game, although this lawsuit has seemingly put paid to that; the publisher is unlikely to waste the courts time for a marketing stunt.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution comes out for PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on August 23rd.

Source: Patent Arcade via CVG

Recommended Videos

The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission.Ā Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author