Kotaku
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legal
Square Enix Brings Hammer Down On French Retailer
Like Nintendo, Square Enix take their intellectual property ownership seriously. So seriously that the Japanese publisher is taking legal action against a single French retailer, accused of selling pirated Square merchandise. More »
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83
Comment by spannu: They probably just chose French since they knew it'd be a guaranteed victory. 29 Responses | Other threads
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retail
Retailers Interested In "Disc-Locking" Technology
While piracy is an issue for game publishers and retailers, so too is straight-up theft. Which is why GameStop and other retailers are taking a good, hard look at new tech that would lock a game disc until it's paid for. More »
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Comment by TowMe: How ironic considering that GameStop is the real thief. 24 Responses | Other threads
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the sims
Pirated Copies Of Sims 3 Are A "Demo Program"
Prior to the retail release of The Sims 3, the game leaked onto popular torrent sites. Hundreds of thousands of people then illegally downloaded the game. Which you'd think would make publishers EA really cranky. More »
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Comment by TheHeeyyy: But how does this deter people from just pirating the full version when it hits the torrents? 17 Responses | Other threads
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e3 2009
EA Re-Thinking How You Spend Your Gaming Money
Pirated copies of The Sims 3 temporarily rattled EA. Burnout Paradise DLC came too late. And Battleforge is now part of the hardest market in gaming. So said EA's CEO to Kotaku in a conversation about games and … money. More »
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Comment by Befitzero: The only thing that has me worried the most is that EA may have started a new evil trend where... 10 Responses | Other threads
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piracy
Congress Identifies Piracy Priority Countries
The Congressional International Anti-Piracy Caucus asks that Canada, Russia, China, Mexico, and Spain please cut down on the software piracy. Thanks! More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by supo: Keep your noses out of our business. Signed, Canada 54 Responses | Other threads
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ds
Well, The DSi Didn't Stay Piracy-Free For Long
I've always suspected that whole point of the Nintendo DSi - and its online firmware updates - was not to introduce new features, but to curtail piracy. Fat lot of good it's done them. More »
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Comment by Agumen: I realize this is most definitely news, but I hate the thought of you guys advertising the existance of a... 24 Responses | Other threads
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zeno clash
Zeno Clash Dev Tries Reasoning with Torrenters
Like stages of grief, game-makers' response to file sharing goes in stages. ACE Team, the Zeno Clash developer, skipped rage and grief and moved on to bargaining - directly with would-be copiers. More »
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By Owen GoodComment by Michael Dukakis - Mets fan - Baseball nerd: I can't stand this pirating crap. If you can't afford a game don't play it, christ. If you do have... 53 Responses | Other threads
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piracy
Canada Joins U.S. Piracy Watch List
We warned you, Canada. The ESA dropped us a line today to inform us that our neighbors to the north have officially made the U.S. Priority Watch List for failing to protect intellectual property. More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by Komrade Kayce - Hero of Soviet Kotaku: Lucky for you Americans, we've only got one road in this country. So if you want to visit the Prime... 22 Responses | Other threads
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pc
It May Be Safe To Play Demigod Now
Demigod had a regrettable launch. Too many pirates, server infrastructure couldn't cope. But after a week we're sure Stardock would rather forget, things are looking up! More »
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Comment by vid3oman64: Oh, cool, good for them! Oh, wait, I still don't really want to play this game. How about a review, eh, Kotaku? 12 Responses | Other threads
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peter dille
Sony: PSP Piracy Levels Are "Sickening"
2008 was not a banner year for the PSP in North America, with a software release list that could nicely be called thin. That was in part due to developers nearly abandoning the platform. More »
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Comment by laser beams: thanks for fucking everything up, pirates- i hope you're happy. 216 Responses | Other threads
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piracy
ESA Applauds Pirate Bay's Year in Jail
The Pirate Bay took a broadsides in Swedish court and the Entertainment Software Association is over the moon about it. More »
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Comment by blachole: Applaud all they want..the website still exists. Just because they put the creators and owners in jail, doesn't mean that... 67 Responses | Other threads
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pc
Demigod: 18,000 Customers, 100,000 Pirates [Update]
Poor Demigod had a rocky launch. Mainly because there were too many people trying to play the game. And why were there too many people? Because there were five pirates for every paying customer. More »
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Comment by suya123: Good god. Wouldn't this have been adverted if they put it on steam? 35 Responses | Other threads
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DSI
Nintendo: Super Small Number of U.S. DSi Owners Have DS Cart Issues
While looking into the issue of Nintendo potentially making the DSi's anti-piracy tech more robust, I also checked to see if it was possible that legitimate copies of DS games weren't working in the DSi. More »
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Comment by icepick314: well...blowing on it seemed to be the choice fix of Nintendo cartridges... 14 Responses | Other threads
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rumor
DSi Includes New Anti-Piracy Protection?
The DSi doesn't just include some hardware upgrades and the ability to download games directly to the system, it might also include more robust anti-piracy software as well.
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Comment by Vecha: Wishing Prototype would go down in price!: I don't want to get a DSi to pirate DS ganmes.... I want to get a DSi to pirate SNES, N64,... 30 Responses | Other threads
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valve
New Steamworks Feature "Makes DRM Obsolete"
Shortly after Microsoft revealed new features for their Games for Windows Live service, Valve counters with new Steamworks features, including in-game downloadable content, robust matchmaking, and new technology they claim "makes DRM obsolete." More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by eddienoteddy: steam continues its quest for total world domination. +1 25 Responses | Other threads
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nintendo
Japanese Court Blocks Sales Of The DS's R4 Cart
Last year, Nintendo (and 53 other companies) took action against the makers of the R4 cart, a device which allows, amongst other things, the pirating of games on a DS. Today, they won big. More »
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Comment by Ted: Sucks for those who actually used it as a media storage whachamagooble. 17 Responses | Other threads
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piracy
Creative Assembly: Fighting Piracy Is Pointless
What's the point of fighting PC game piracy? According to Stormrise developer Creative Assembly Australia's communications manager Vispi Bhopti, there isn't one. More » -
piracy
Western Europe Home of Most Active Pirates
Western Europe is home to some of the world's most active countries engaged in online game piracy, according to Entertainment Software Association. More »
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Comment by TheUnlovingSonOfCammieDunaway: piracy is a criminal offence 28 Responses | Other threads
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piracy
PC Gaming Alliance: Piracy Has Been Good To Us
While widespread PC game piracy is generally seen as a blight on the industry, PC Gaming Alliance president Randy Stude contends that the free exchange of games has definitely had a positive effect. More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by Psychopathic Assassin: Uh, isn't that picture from a porn movie? 31 Responses | Other threads
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nintendo
The Telegraph, Brought To You By Nintendo DS Flash Carts
Interesting example of "different horses, different courses" at work here. While companies in Japan are trying to erase the very thought of the R4 flash cart, in Britain, the R4 can advertise on the Telegraph! More »
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Comment by EmeraldCockroach: I advise anyone who hasnt read the Virgin complaint letter mentioned above the ad to do so, it is hilarious. 4 Responses | Other threads
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valve
Valve's View: Pirates are Customers Too
Speaking this week at a forum on game industry law, Valve's Jason Holtman said the company views pirates as "underserved customers" and used a win-win anecdote about Russia showing how they deal with them. More »
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By Owen GoodComment by Hey_Blinkon: Interesting viewpoint, I can see some validity to it. I mean, I the only stuff I've "pirated" has been... 29 Responses | Other threads
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prince of persia
Prince Of Persia PC To Be DRM-Free
Not content with making Prince of Persia too easy for players, Ubisoft have decided to make it too easy for pirates as well! More »
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Comment by That mop mutant from NES.: Ubisoft going DRM-less??. This is like putting milk in a bowl of rice. Am I suppose to applaud the effort... 15 Responses | Other threads
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which?
UK Consumer Group Takes On Davenport Lyons
The consumer rights organisation Which? has filed a complain on behalf of UK consumers accused of piracy by the law firm Davenport Lyons. More » -
esa
Peering Inside Game Piracy: Measures and Countermeasures
I sometimes feel like discussions on game piracy ought to be shelved alongside scintillating 1960s publications from the Rand Corporation like Counterinsurgency in Manchuria, except the piracy discussions are considerably more engaging. More »
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Comment by mhlaxp: I'm fine with putting locks on doors and cars, but what they've done is set up 137 hidden cameras in... 17 Responses | Other threads
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piracy
Bigtime Game Pirate Cops Smalltime Plea
Some guy who ran a six-figure game-copying operation from his home pleaded guilty and will do about a year in the slammer, mostly because he was also popped for drugs and child endangerment. More »
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By Owen GoodComment by KoolDrMoneyEsq: The child endangerment charge is probably related to the drugs. Usually when they are left in the childs reach... 19 Responses | Other threads
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nintendo
HM Customs Warns Of Dangerous DS Fakes
HM Customs (as in Her Majesty's - the Queen hates smuggling) has issued a warning against fake Nintendo DS Lites that can (possibly) cause you physical harm as well as financial. More »
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Comment by d4rlp3nc1l: well what do people think about buying stuff off of dealextreme.com is it worth it. only askn because im looking for... 8 Responses | Other threads
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piracy
Acekard Announce First Fully Working Dsi Flash Cart
Remember that video we showed you of the work-in-progress DSi flash cart? Yeah, well, work has progressed. More »
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Comment by J4cK 0f He4rt5: I have an AceKard2 for my DS Lite, and it is a fantastic piece of kit. I would never have... 12 Responses | Other threads
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idoru
Retro Gaming Pin-Up Model Tells Off Game Pirates ("Yaargh!")
Hey! Everyone's favorite retro gaming idol Haruna Anno has some harsh words for you illegal downloader pirate people. Very harsh. More » -
playstation portable
Are People Getting Sick Of Pirating PSP Games?
Speaking with MTV, Sony's John Koller has revealed that PSP piracy - long the source of Sony's wrath when it comes to the handheld - is on the decline. More »
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Comment by That One Guy: When the Dreamcast and N64 Emus get working. Watch it Rise up again, who wouldnt want Ocarina of Time and... 12 Responses | Other threads
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piracy
Idiot Pays For Boob Job, Weight Loss With Pirated Games
Meet Raymond Adams. Raymond is 37, and dating 33 year-old "Julie" (obviously not her real name). When they met, Raymond was fat. Very fat. And Julie felt she was lacking in the chesticle department. So it's a feel-good story that, after spending ₤10,000, Raymond is now thin and "Julie" has a spanking new pair of norgs, yes? No! You see, Raymond didn't raise the money through legitimate means. He was running a "shop" called Midland Console Modifications from the totally non-shady location of Wolverhampton race course, and it's believed the "shop" had earned him a cool ₤180,000. Or, it had, until he was sentenced to three years prison earlier this week. For her part in it, "Julie" copped a suspended 12-month sentence. Proof that crime doesn't pay...unless it's for vain body modifications. More »
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Comment by NeVeRMoRe666: Oh thank god. I thought they used the fat for the.... ugh... 12 Responses | Other threads
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zeebo
Tectoy Zeebo - 3G Console From Brazil
The Zeebo is a new console from Brazilian outfit Tectoy that uses a 3G SIM card to download games. It is a bit on an odd beast - looking like an unholy marriage of the PS3 and a Wii, and the strictly last-gen games selection (Quake, Crash Bandicoot, etc.) may seem a bit underwhelming. More » -
acekard
Hardware Hackers Make Some DSi Flash Progress
The hardware nerds behind the Acekard flashcart reckon they have made some progress towards getting their card working with the DSi. More »
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Comment by Mr_Raccoon: I really think that Nintendo should consider using an optics-based medium for thier next handheld if they want to combat... 15 Responses | Other threads
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piracy
Xmas Console Sales Affected By Piracy. No, Seriously.
It's all fun and games using 'Piracy' to describe copyright infringement when you want to reframe the debate and equate the sharing of intellectual property with aquatic larceny, but what happens when your actual ship-based armed robbers yo-ho-ho into view? What then, Mr cognitive linguistics smartypants? More »
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Comment by DukeOfPwn: Turns out real pirates are, like people who pirate games, complete assholes. 19 Responses | Other threads
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piracy
90% Of World Of Goo Installs Are Pirated
When 2D Boy released World of Goo, they decided to put their trust in gamers' consciences and send it out into the world unhindered by DRM or copy protection. Nice one, 2D Boy! So, how did that work out for you guys? More » -
DSI
DSi To Stop Flash Cards, Kill Homebrew?
The Nintendo DSi may come with an SD card slot, prompting fears of even easier piracy, but the redesign will close the boot exploit that allows flash devices like the R4 to load arbitrary code. More »
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Comment by VakeroRokero: Aren't homebrewers better off with the DSi store? Most iPhone homebrewers are making thousands of dollars once they got into... 6 Responses | Other threads
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p2p
Atari Accusing Non-Gamers Of P2P Piracy
Oh dear. Why is it that even when companies have a seemingly legitimate gripe about people copying their intellectual property they have such an uncanny knack for squandering any goodwill? Is it some kind of elaborate legal strategy? More »
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Comment by Talleh: No matter what the product is, it will be stolen. From a pack of gum, to entire computers, all the... 6 Responses | Other threads
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crime
Man Arrested For Gears 2 & Fable 2 Theft
All those high-profile games leaks - just how do they happen? Well, here is one way... More »
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Comment by GrimCW: "A search of his apartment revealed games and DVDs valued at over $100,000." i own over $100,000 in games and DVD's... 11 Responses | Other threads
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gears of war 2
Gears Of War 2 Invades Torrent Sites
Yes, yes - Gears of War 2 has begun showing up on popular torrent sites across the internets, with a gigantic 6.76 GB file in convenient RAR format currently being seeded by hundreds of inconsiderate asshats around the world. I won't go into details because quite frankly I've gotten to the point where I don't even consider leaks news anymore. It's going to happen, be it a week away from release or a month away. The only difference between now and any other time of the year is that more high-profile games come out during the holiday season, which I suppose means this is a busy time for everyone in the industry, pirates included. More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by LDawg: Oh man. Fable 2, Fallout 3 (review edition), and now GoW2. /me is already playing GoW2 atm I also pre-ordered the game, so... 43 Responses | Other threads
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fallout 3
Fallout 3 360 Compromised By Pre-Apocalyptic Pirates
Fallout 3 for the Xbox 360, PS3 and PC are still a good 20 days aways from release, yet owners of slightly shadier Xbox 360 systems are already getting their game on, thanks to a copy of the game now making the rounds at the more popular torrent sites on the web. Seeing as Fallout 3 just went gold, this is more than likely a leaked review copy that got into the wrong hands. More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by hansamurai: Dickheads? Because they get to play it before you? 106 Responses | Other threads
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DSI
Could The DSi Encourage Piracy?
So we've got a new DS coming our way, with a slightly bigger screen and a really crappy camera built in, but for some folks out there the big news is the built-in SD slot, a feature that was some worried that the DSi might make rampant DS game pirating even easier. Speaking with GamesIndustry.biz, Team 17 studio director Martyn Brown echoes my concerns over the sub-par camera and suggests the SD slot might become yet another entry point for pirates. More »
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By Mike FaheyComment by hibikir: At least in the US it's not all that easy to get a flash card compared to Europe. I took... 9 Responses | Other threads
piracy
Denver, 8:46 AM
Mon Jul 6
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