In a verdict that’s sending shockwaves through the gaming world, a judge has delivered a resounding blow to a serial cheater within Destiny 2, resulting in not only a permanent ban from the game but also a staggering $500,000 judgment.
Luca Leone, the defendant in this high-stakes legal battle, had become an ongoing nuisance for Bungie, the game’s developer, consistently finding ways to evade account bans and even resorting to threats against Bungie employees.
The consent judgment, seemingly mutually accepted by both parties, casts Leone’s use of cheat software in Destiny 2 as “copyright infringement.” The cheat software, characterized by its graphical overlay and injected code, was deemed to have produced an “unauthorized derivative work,” a direct violation of federal copyright laws. Consequently, the judgment imposes damages of $150,000 for each of the two infringed works, presumably referring to Destiny 2 and its expansions.
But Leone’s legal quagmire didn’t stop there. His attempts to circumvent Bungie’s account bans only compounded his troubles. He went so far as to create new accounts and argued that, as a minor, he could “opt out” of the game’s license agreement to avoid the bans. However, the judge’s ruling determined that each subsequent login without a valid license constituted yet another copyright violation, leading to additional damages of $2,000 for each of the approximately 100 such logins.
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In addition to the financial penalties, the judge handed down an unprecedented permaban. Leone is now barred from any interaction with Bungie’s games, which includes obtaining, downloading, playing, streaming, or even discussing them in the future. Moreover, he’s prohibited from possessing or promoting cheat software related to the game and from engaging in any transactions involving Bungie accounts and emblems.
As if that weren’t enough, Leone must also cease operating any social media or digital messaging accounts linked to the promotion or discussion of his previous copyright infringements.
But there’s more to this story than just cheating. The case also included allegations of threats and stalking against Bungie employees, which led to the issuance of a restraining order. Leone is now legally forbidden from approaching within 1,000 feet of Bungie’s offices or the known address of any Bungie employee, with explicit instructions to refrain from harassing them.
While legal actions against individual cheaters in the gaming world are rare, Bungie’s commitment to upholding the integrity of its games and safeguarding its community from disruptive cheaters shines through in this ruling. It’s a powerful reminder that cheating in the digital realm can lead to real-world consequences.
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