Blizzard Suing Creators of StarCraft II Hacks

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Blizzard Suing Creators of StarCraft II Hacks

Posted by Soulskill on Tuesday October 19, 2010 @07:55PM from the hold-your-counsel dept.

An anonymous reader writes with this excerpt from Rock, Paper, Shotgun: "Blizzard have taken the extremely peculiar decision to ban players from playing StarCraft II for using cheats in the single-player game. This meant that, despite cheating no one but themselves, they were locked out of playing the single-player game. Which is clearly bonkers. But it's not enough for the developer. Blizzard's lawyers are now setting out to sue those who create cheats. Gamespot reports that the megolithic company is chasing after three developers of hacks for 'destroying' their online game. It definitely will be in violation of the end user agreement, so there's a case. However, it's a certain element of their claim that stands out for attention. They're claiming using the hacks causes people to infringe copyright: 'When users of the Hacks download, install, and use the Hacks, they copy StarCraft II copyrighted content into their computer's RAM in excess of the scope of their limited license, as set forth in the EULA and ToU, and create derivative works of StarCraft II.'" Blizzard used similar reasoning in their successful lawsuit against the creators of a World of Warcraft bot.

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not really single-player by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-19 20:00 · Score: 0, Informative

Considering the achievement system, they're not cheating only themselves.
1. Re:not really single-player by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-19 20:18 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  Starcraft II includes cheat codes. When the codes are in effect the ability to earn the achievements is disabled. The hack in question allows players to cheat and earn the achievements at the same time.
2. Re:not really single-player by cappp · 2010-10-19 20:22 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  StarCraft 2 has cheat codes in it, their use just disables achievements until you start a new game or load an old one. Part of the issue is that this guy was using a program that let him cheat while still earning achievements and, according to the comments on the Rock Paper Shotgun article, cheat in the multiplayer too - both of which messes with the ranking system and in turn, causes all kinds of weirdness with their online matchmaking.
3. Re:not really single-player by rotre · 2010-10-20 06:17 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  I still fail to see the issue here besides that fact that you may have to play an easy game now and then.
  I guess you don't know how multiplayer Starcraft: Brood War was essentially wrecked by map hackers, resource hackers, auto-build hackers, etc.
4. Re:not really single-player by WraithCube · 2010-10-20 10:11 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  It's utter madness. If someone wanted to make the "Game Genie" nowadays, Nintendo would sue them into oblivion and prevent it from ever happening.
  Funny you should mention that as Nintendo did sue them and lost. If anything goes right, maybe this lawsuit will turn out the same way.
Re:Spore got this right by KamuZ · 2010-10-19 20:34 · Score: 2, Informative

You can actually enable cheats in SC2 and it will disable achievements. I think the program used for cheating allows you to get all the achievements in single and probably also in multiplayer which probably is what they are trying to "fight".
Not surprised. by Skythe · 2010-10-19 21:13 · Score: 2, Informative

If you've ever played Starcraft 2 single player, you'll know that you generally authenticate with your Battle.Net account first and are able to chat to your online contacts etc etc. Single player's "achievements" are also integrated and a part of your multiplayer profile, so by using hacks/whatever it's possible to get hard/difficult achievements without actually putting in the hard yards. Play the game before you jump to conclusions!
Sucks, but.... by Jaysyn · 2010-10-19 21:50 · Score: 3, Informative

This sucks, but it doesn't affect me in the least. Blizzard went on my "evil company" blacklist the day they sued Bnetd.

--
There is a war going on for your mind.
Re:Let them know how you feel by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-19 23:54 · Score: 1, Informative

Um, so maybe you didn't know, but SC2 has cheat codes. That disable achievements. Like you suggested.
Re:Let them know how you feel by SashaM · 2010-10-20 00:10 · Score: 3, Informative

The string "SC2" is forever and ever reserved as an identifier for the best quest ever made, and a definite contender for the best game ever -- Star Control 2.
Re:Achievement System by grumbel · 2010-10-20 01:09 · Score: 2, Informative

What is the point to get achievement by cheating ? This is just worthless.
Yeah, but that is not the problem here. If Blizzard would just block or delete the achievements of cheaters, big deal, hardly anybody would care. What they are doing instead is suing the cheat tool builders via dubious EULA based restrictions.
Re:Interesting Logic by LordLimecat · 2010-10-20 01:27 · Score: 2, Informative

Hes connected to their servers while playing single player (at least if he is earning achievements). Blizzard DOES have some say in this so long as you are using one of their services.
Re:No, mod (grand)parent DOWN by LordLimecat · 2010-10-20 01:32 · Score: 2, Informative

Single player games that get achievements ARE using Blizzard's network. Its constantly online as you play unless you choose the "play offline" feature.
Re:Achievement System by Anonymous Coward · 2010-10-20 01:40 · Score: 1, Informative

So? This is still unenforceable. This is on Blizzards head for creating a system that is legally unprotected, then trying to immorally protect it by frighteningly pushing the bounds of law to cover it.
Re:Only a matter of time by sstamps · 2010-10-20 02:07 · Score: 2, Informative

Turned evil? They've been evil in this way since bnetd.

--
-SS "Teach the ignorant, care for the dumb, and punish the stupid."