Square Enix going after 15 John Does accused of leaking Deus Ex preview code
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A recent court document depicts the beginning of a legal battle between Square Enix and 15 unknown "John Does" over the publisher's upcoming action-RPG, Deus Ex: Human Revolution, which leaked through an early preview code in late May. The Steam-based early preview code can allegedly be traced back to one specific Italian outlet -- "Giochi per il Mio Computer," owned by Sprea Editori -- though it apparently isn't to blame.
"On information and belief, one or more Defendants logged into the restricted Steam account hosting the Game Preview code by entering the username and password associated with the authorized GMC reviewer on or about May 29, 2011," the document reads. It then clarifies the breach as "from an IP address that was not associated with Sprea Editori or GMC." Then who's the culprit?
It seems that even Square doesn't know just yet. Rather than aim its suit at the Italian gaming outlet, the Japanese publisher is instead directing its legal team at 15 unnamed John Does, seeking "monetary damage in excess of $5,000" for the preview's distribution, as well as investigating its breach, any "gains, profits, advantages, and unjust enrichment obtained as a result" of the breach, and any "punitive damages in an amount to be determined at trial." The document will set the stage for potential legal recourse in the future if and when any of the accused Does are identified.
We've reached out to Square for clarification, since it's unclear from the court document whether or not an investigation is ongoing with Italian officials over the alleged breach. The suit was filed in the US District Court, Seattle specifically, as a result of the leak's origins via Steam (Steam's servers are hosted in Bellevue, Washington). Deus Ex: Human Revolution is intended to officially launch on August 23.
"On information and belief, one or more Defendants logged into the restricted Steam account hosting the Game Preview code by entering the username and password associated with the authorized GMC reviewer on or about May 29, 2011," the document reads. It then clarifies the breach as "from an IP address that was not associated with Sprea Editori or GMC." Then who's the culprit?
It seems that even Square doesn't know just yet. Rather than aim its suit at the Italian gaming outlet, the Japanese publisher is instead directing its legal team at 15 unnamed John Does, seeking "monetary damage in excess of $5,000" for the preview's distribution, as well as investigating its breach, any "gains, profits, advantages, and unjust enrichment obtained as a result" of the breach, and any "punitive damages in an amount to be determined at trial." The document will set the stage for potential legal recourse in the future if and when any of the accused Does are identified.
We've reached out to Square for clarification, since it's unclear from the court document whether or not an investigation is ongoing with Italian officials over the alleged breach. The suit was filed in the US District Court, Seattle specifically, as a result of the leak's origins via Steam (Steam's servers are hosted in Bellevue, Washington). Deus Ex: Human Revolution is intended to officially launch on August 23.
Reader Comments (22)
Posted: Jul 6th 2011 1:21PM Destati said
Oh my, a group of people Squarenix can't sue? Watch as the price goes up from 50 dollars to 51 on Master Race PCs and from 60 to 61 on Dirty Peasant consoles.
Wouldn't be unlike that. They love attaching an extra 5 dollars to their first party titles because they put so much detail in they feel the consumer owes them.
I'll end this rant by asking "Where is Valkyrie Profile 3"
Wouldn't be unlike that. They love attaching an extra 5 dollars to their first party titles because they put so much detail in they feel the consumer owes them.
I'll end this rant by asking "Where is Valkyrie Profile 3"
Posted: Jul 6th 2011 1:26PM Doctalen said
Go get 'em Squeenix!
Posted: Jul 6th 2011 1:44PM The Minn said
15 people should go after Square-Enix for the crap they have put out lately.
Posted: Jul 6th 2011 1:47PM Edix said
@Shadow Hog
They are going for a much higher amount. They are saying the damages are more than $5000. Often that amount is a legal threshold for being able to sue someone for larger amounts of money in court. Some courts wont take cases for less than amount and you would have to go to smaller courts.
They are going for a much higher amount. They are saying the damages are more than $5000. Often that amount is a legal threshold for being able to sue someone for larger amounts of money in court. Some courts wont take cases for less than amount and you would have to go to smaller courts.
Posted: Jul 6th 2011 1:55PM Fire Walk With Me said
Seems as much about promoting Deus Ex as it is about a preview code no one knows about.
Posted: Jul 6th 2011 3:28PM Jennacide said
@Fire Walk With Me
No, it's about the damages the leak caused to the potential sales. Apparently it got put on several torrent sites and direct download sites, and the handful of my friends that bothered to check it out were far from impressed. If this is a common trend, it could have a catastrophic effect on the sales of the game, since a ton of people have already tried the first 20 minutes or so and were underwhelmed.
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No, it's about the damages the leak caused to the potential sales. Apparently it got put on several torrent sites and direct download sites, and the handful of my friends that bothered to check it out were far from impressed. If this is a common trend, it could have a catastrophic effect on the sales of the game, since a ton of people have already tried the first 20 minutes or so and were underwhelmed.
Posted: Jul 6th 2011 5:30PM Ninjasoup said
@Jennacide
So did your friends actually make it to the part of the game where it opens up and you can augment yourself in addition to tackling a mission in multiple ways? By the 20 minute comment it sounds like you didn't.
For the 'lost sales' I'd actually argue the opposite. I've seen a ton of people who were once skeptical about the game being a 'true successor' to Deus Ex preorder the full game (or even in some cases upgrade to the augmented edition) once they made it through the first real mission and found how closely it sticks to what made the first game so great.
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So did your friends actually make it to the part of the game where it opens up and you can augment yourself in addition to tackling a mission in multiple ways? By the 20 minute comment it sounds like you didn't.
For the 'lost sales' I'd actually argue the opposite. I've seen a ton of people who were once skeptical about the game being a 'true successor' to Deus Ex preorder the full game (or even in some cases upgrade to the augmented edition) once they made it through the first real mission and found how closely it sticks to what made the first game so great.
Posted: Jul 6th 2011 6:29PM Eight Hundred said
@Ninjasoup
"For the 'lost sales' I'd actually argue the opposite."
This. Thousands of people preordered HR after playing the leak, it made the game look way better than SE's shitty marketing.
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"For the 'lost sales' I'd actually argue the opposite."
This. Thousands of people preordered HR after playing the leak, it made the game look way better than SE's shitty marketing.
Posted: Jul 6th 2011 8:26PM DevilSei said
@Eight Hundred
Aye, all I really remembering was people loving the game, and the actual developers, and not the publishers, encouraging people who did download the leaked game to post on their official forums any bugs, comments, or anything in general about the game they want.
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Aye, all I really remembering was people loving the game, and the actual developers, and not the publishers, encouraging people who did download the leaked game to post on their official forums any bugs, comments, or anything in general about the game they want.
Posted: Jul 6th 2011 2:06PM Kayonesoft said
They tried to leak the next Final Fantasy's code, but could only find cinematics.
Posted: Jul 6th 2011 2:38PM PercyChuggs said
Am I the only one who thinks this game is going to be mediocre at best, and a complete failure at worst?
Posted: Jul 6th 2011 3:43PM aughscreennames said
its neither, its a very good game as far as FPS's go and much better than all the other monotonous COD FPS's we've been getting
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Posted: Jul 6th 2011 4:41PM 2late2die said
Love the image, that is all.
Posted: Jul 6th 2011 7:04PM Narmo23 said
Just give them jobs already. It's the best solution ever (thanks, Facebook, and all the other guys).
And, uhh, the idea of leaks affecting sales isn't black and white. You guys can point out facts (or speculations, which seems to be the case) that say that a leak actually increased sales, but not so in some other examples -- the E. Ryu & Oni leak in AE was dealt with pretty fast for reasons that, well, you guys can easily think of (you guys have brains, right? ^^;).
Oh well, HYPE HYPE HYPE HYPE HYPE. That is all.
And, uhh, the idea of leaks affecting sales isn't black and white. You guys can point out facts (or speculations, which seems to be the case) that say that a leak actually increased sales, but not so in some other examples -- the E. Ryu & Oni leak in AE was dealt with pretty fast for reasons that, well, you guys can easily think of (you guys have brains, right? ^^;).
Oh well, HYPE HYPE HYPE HYPE HYPE. That is all.
Posted: Jul 6th 2011 7:14PM samwise227 said
Even if they found every single John Doe and got as much as $10,000, which isn't likely, they're still paying more in legal fees to pursue this, I'd imagine.
Posted: Jul 6th 2011 10:30PM Sabbatai said
You'll never find them!
- I'll never stop looking!
- I'll never stop looking!
Posted: Jul 6th 2011 10:41PM Sabbatai said
I got it.... it's not great in terms of gameplay but the story will probably make up for it.
Oh, I thought we were talking about Half Life 2.
Oh, I thought we were talking about Half Life 2.








