Most outrageous crimes video game companies have been accused of
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Date: 2023-12-10
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Comments and reviews: 30
polygon
A bit obscure but it's something worth talking about:
There's a Chinese company called EasyTech that makes strategy games on mobile (specifically ones that take place in historical time periods like the Napoleonic Wars, Three Kingdoms, World War 2, and some others. Their games have a strong following here in Asia and probably even farther than Europe, and every game that has a following has mods made of it, mods up the ass.
For this one, this is about one of their games, European War 6: 1804. Around this time, modding EW6: 1804 was illegal (I say -at the time- since now, there's an unlocked APK of it which allows modders to y'know, mod the game, then one modder who I will not name not because of privacy but because I genuinely do not know his name. He made a mod that added a cheat menu over the game (the cheat menu gave you maximum medals and gold; medals are the IAP currency in a lot of EasyTech's games which might've had something to do with what happened next) but didn't really change anything else. But because it made the IAP currency free, and that their game which was unmoddable at the time and that the play store's APK had a lot of protection, EasyTech got understandably pissed about this, but instead of a lawsuit, they managed to get the modder sent to -JAIL-.
That's right, a modder went to jail for modding a game. I mean, it's kind of understandable since the game was I think recently released and that it would've taken a lot of time to crack, but what I don't think is understandable is sending the modder to jail for it. I don't know, maybe copyright laws are different in China but it's wrong to arrest someone just for modding something.
SIDENOTE: He's probably one year into his jail sentence. I don't know how long his sentence is but I've heard that it's about 15 to 20 years.
TL; DR: Modder cracks newly released game, developers understandably get angry and send the modder to jail.
EDIT: Decided to format it a little. I know this won't be read since it'll be buried under a sea of other comments but if someone does find this, here's a good read for you, enjoy!
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A bit obscure but it's something worth talking about:
There's a Chinese company called EasyTech that makes strategy games on mobile (specifically ones that take place in historical time periods like the Napoleonic Wars, Three Kingdoms, World War 2, and some others. Their games have a strong following here in Asia and probably even farther than Europe, and every game that has a following has mods made of it, mods up the ass.
For this one, this is about one of their games, European War 6: 1804. Around this time, modding EW6: 1804 was illegal (I say -at the time- since now, there's an unlocked APK of it which allows modders to y'know, mod the game, then one modder who I will not name not because of privacy but because I genuinely do not know his name. He made a mod that added a cheat menu over the game (the cheat menu gave you maximum medals and gold; medals are the IAP currency in a lot of EasyTech's games which might've had something to do with what happened next) but didn't really change anything else. But because it made the IAP currency free, and that their game which was unmoddable at the time and that the play store's APK had a lot of protection, EasyTech got understandably pissed about this, but instead of a lawsuit, they managed to get the modder sent to -JAIL-.
That's right, a modder went to jail for modding a game. I mean, it's kind of understandable since the game was I think recently released and that it would've taken a lot of time to crack, but what I don't think is understandable is sending the modder to jail for it. I don't know, maybe copyright laws are different in China but it's wrong to arrest someone just for modding something.
SIDENOTE: He's probably one year into his jail sentence. I don't know how long his sentence is but I've heard that it's about 15 to 20 years.
TL; DR: Modder cracks newly released game, developers understandably get angry and send the modder to jail.
EDIT: Decided to format it a little. I know this won't be read since it'll be buried under a sea of other comments but if someone does find this, here's a good read for you, enjoy!
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-smackerlacker8708
A fake medkit is still a medkit. It is a tool for saving lives, which is exactly what the symbol was designed to indicate.
It may be a violation of law, but it is definitely not a violation of the intention of the the symbol. I would argue that, if anything, these fictional uses of the read cross serve to spread knowledge of the symbol and it's meaning, of which most of us would not otherwise be aware.
This is just another example of the how the letter of the law has become more important than its intent.
I submit that in order to be valid, any and every law must have a clearly stated purpose IN the literature of that law, that enforcement of the law must be possible and practical, and that enforcement of that law must necessarily and ONLY serve that specific intent. Most important of all, that intent must be good and NECESSARY for the benefit of ALL people.
Preventing people from putting a red cross on their virtual medical supplies has no purpose or benefit to anyone, anywhere, no matter how you spin it.
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A fake medkit is still a medkit. It is a tool for saving lives, which is exactly what the symbol was designed to indicate.
It may be a violation of law, but it is definitely not a violation of the intention of the the symbol. I would argue that, if anything, these fictional uses of the read cross serve to spread knowledge of the symbol and it's meaning, of which most of us would not otherwise be aware.
This is just another example of the how the letter of the law has become more important than its intent.
I submit that in order to be valid, any and every law must have a clearly stated purpose IN the literature of that law, that enforcement of the law must be possible and practical, and that enforcement of that law must necessarily and ONLY serve that specific intent. Most important of all, that intent must be good and NECESSARY for the benefit of ALL people.
Preventing people from putting a red cross on their virtual medical supplies has no purpose or benefit to anyone, anywhere, no matter how you spin it.
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-hideshisface1886
Of course it was red cross.
Their argument hold ZERO water.
-Diminishes the menaing of symbol- - so. making it universally recognisable as symbol for health diminishes its meaning as symbol of health.
Another thing is - copyrighting something that is BASIC shape would have difficulty holding in any serious court without monstrous bribes being involved - besides - who says it is a cross? It is a RED PLUS - clearly copyright-distinct.
My guess is that Red Cross does this to actually PREVENT their symbol from being universally recognisable - because this could make them lose the copyright - like it happened with Bandaid. Because believe it or not - band-aid is actually a copyrighted brand name - yet you don't see the company behind it suing every single movie, book or game utilising it, right? Because they can't any more - since band-aid became basically a common-use term and as such, copyright no longer applies to it in that regard. Same could easily be argued with Red Cross.
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Of course it was red cross.
Their argument hold ZERO water.
-Diminishes the menaing of symbol- - so. making it universally recognisable as symbol for health diminishes its meaning as symbol of health.
Another thing is - copyrighting something that is BASIC shape would have difficulty holding in any serious court without monstrous bribes being involved - besides - who says it is a cross? It is a RED PLUS - clearly copyright-distinct.
My guess is that Red Cross does this to actually PREVENT their symbol from being universally recognisable - because this could make them lose the copyright - like it happened with Bandaid. Because believe it or not - band-aid is actually a copyrighted brand name - yet you don't see the company behind it suing every single movie, book or game utilising it, right? Because they can't any more - since band-aid became basically a common-use term and as such, copyright no longer applies to it in that regard. Same could easily be argued with Red Cross.
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-huismands
Putting gambling mechanics in videogames for kids.
Not paying taxes.
Exploiting workers, crunching them into oblivion, causing mental health problems, and firing employees without severance.
Selling broken glitchy games at full price, and discontinuing support for -service- games even though people paid for them, breaking their products after sale.
Yeah, I really don't think this topic should be addressed in a -quirky Polygon video-.
I mean, come on: HAHAHA, STARDEW VALLEY VIOLATED THE GENEVA CONFENTION LOL! XD
This is a serious problem people, and should be treated as such. This is just pathetic. For shame.
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Putting gambling mechanics in videogames for kids.
Not paying taxes.
Exploiting workers, crunching them into oblivion, causing mental health problems, and firing employees without severance.
Selling broken glitchy games at full price, and discontinuing support for -service- games even though people paid for them, breaking their products after sale.
Yeah, I really don't think this topic should be addressed in a -quirky Polygon video-.
I mean, come on: HAHAHA, STARDEW VALLEY VIOLATED THE GENEVA CONFENTION LOL! XD
This is a serious problem people, and should be treated as such. This is just pathetic. For shame.
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-prophet3091
Tbh I can't really agree with the last one, because although maintaining a symbol's meaning is important, especially life or death ones, it's only ever used for healing items, which I imagine would either strengthen or at least not weaken the association between the red cross and medical care.
Though I'm sure I would still recognize it if I only saw it in ads/fundraisers/hospitals/etc, I doubt it would have the same gut reaction that I do now. As long as a symbol is used for its original meaning, I don't have a problem with it
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Tbh I can't really agree with the last one, because although maintaining a symbol's meaning is important, especially life or death ones, it's only ever used for healing items, which I imagine would either strengthen or at least not weaken the association between the red cross and medical care.
Though I'm sure I would still recognize it if I only saw it in ads/fundraisers/hospitals/etc, I doubt it would have the same gut reaction that I do now. As long as a symbol is used for its original meaning, I don't have a problem with it
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-MC1250
I'm sorry the red cross thing is dumb. It's like saying a game breaks traffic violations for having stop signs, or a game is a health and safety hazard for having a fire extinguisher. When you create a real world setting its important to have real world items. Showing a red cross in a game doesn't dilute its meaning, rather it emphasizes its importance in society. If the red cross item was poison they would have a case, but I can't agree here.
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I'm sorry the red cross thing is dumb. It's like saying a game breaks traffic violations for having stop signs, or a game is a health and safety hazard for having a fire extinguisher. When you create a real world setting its important to have real world items. Showing a red cross in a game doesn't dilute its meaning, rather it emphasizes its importance in society. If the red cross item was poison they would have a case, but I can't agree here.
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-LuvTonique
Wait, so, they want to defend the red cross by making sure people don't forget its intended purpose
Which is for -non-combat installations, vehicles, and personnel ministering to the sick and wounded-
So, how exactly is putting it on a hospital in a video game diluting its message and making people forget its purpose?
Isn't that exactly what it's supposed to be recognized as?
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Wait, so, they want to defend the red cross by making sure people don't forget its intended purpose
Which is for -non-combat installations, vehicles, and personnel ministering to the sick and wounded-
So, how exactly is putting it on a hospital in a video game diluting its message and making people forget its purpose?
Isn't that exactly what it's supposed to be recognized as?
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polygon
Interesting. I had never heard of the lawsuit that involved the one fighter dudes lion tattoo. I HAVE heard of a very similar lawsuit over an NBA videogame with the same deal. Tattoo artist claims copyright on it, and the players likeness doesn't cover it. If you get a tattoo. definitely make sure you get the copyright on the design assigned to you. Especially if you're famous.
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Interesting. I had never heard of the lawsuit that involved the one fighter dudes lion tattoo. I HAVE heard of a very similar lawsuit over an NBA videogame with the same deal. Tattoo artist claims copyright on it, and the players likeness doesn't cover it. If you get a tattoo. definitely make sure you get the copyright on the design assigned to you. Especially if you're famous.
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-thedocblock6421
Them: Stardew Valley is a cute and charming game with fun and addictive gameplay. It offers a similar experience to Harvest Moon while also adding new choices to make everyone's experience unique.
Me: sTARDEW VALLEY HAS VIOLATED THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND AS SUCH IS CLASSIFIED AS A WAR CRIME! WE SHALL NOT SIT IDLY BY AS WAR CRIMES HAPPEN UPON OUR FRONT STEPS!
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Them: Stardew Valley is a cute and charming game with fun and addictive gameplay. It offers a similar experience to Harvest Moon while also adding new choices to make everyone's experience unique.
Me: sTARDEW VALLEY HAS VIOLATED THE GENEVA CONVENTIONS AND AS SUCH IS CLASSIFIED AS A WAR CRIME! WE SHALL NOT SIT IDLY BY AS WAR CRIMES HAPPEN UPON OUR FRONT STEPS!
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-oliverimhoof
Regarding the NCAA players sueing EA, they could try to be compensated for the right to use their likeness. That way, the appearance of their face and body, not their ability to play basketball well, is being sold and, therefore, their status as amateur would still be intact. They'd be amateur athletes with part-time jobs as models, not professional athletes.
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Regarding the NCAA players sueing EA, they could try to be compensated for the right to use their likeness. That way, the appearance of their face and body, not their ability to play basketball well, is being sold and, therefore, their status as amateur would still be intact. They'd be amateur athletes with part-time jobs as models, not professional athletes.
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polygon
skullgirls also broke the geneva conventions with their character, valentine. the magenta crosses on her outfit used to be red until the developers got into trouble and changed it, and none of her alternate outfits have those magenta details as red on a white background
good job skullgirls i-m so proud of you guys
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skullgirls also broke the geneva conventions with their character, valentine. the magenta crosses on her outfit used to be red until the developers got into trouble and changed it, and none of her alternate outfits have those magenta details as red on a white background
good job skullgirls i-m so proud of you guys
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polygon
I would say that the Red Cross protecting their branding and forcing media creators to use knock offs does far far more to dilute and confuse the meaning than allowing creators to use the symbols appropriately ever did.
The protections on the red cross symbol are a direct affront to the safety of mankind.
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I would say that the Red Cross protecting their branding and forcing media creators to use knock offs does far far more to dilute and confuse the meaning than allowing creators to use the symbols appropriately ever did.
The protections on the red cross symbol are a direct affront to the safety of mankind.
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-AspelShuyin
The one about Stardew Valley and so many other games violating the Geneva Convention seems odd. After all, isn't constantly associating a red plus symbol with health and healing in fiction actually making sure that everyone knows the Red Cross means healing?
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The one about Stardew Valley and so many other games violating the Geneva Convention seems odd. After all, isn't constantly associating a red plus symbol with health and healing in fiction actually making sure that everyone knows the Red Cross means healing?
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-Zap717
You missed one. Ubisoft got in trouble when their preorder legendary copy (or whatever) of Assassin's Creed 3 came with a copy of the Betsy Ross, which unlicensed distribution of is illegal, altered with the Assassin's logo on top of it, which is also illegal.
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You missed one. Ubisoft got in trouble when their preorder legendary copy (or whatever) of Assassin's Creed 3 came with a copy of the Betsy Ross, which unlicensed distribution of is illegal, altered with the Assassin's logo on top of it, which is also illegal.
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polygon
The Geneva convention one always confuses me a bit. Doesn't having doctors and medical supplies marked with the red cross STRENGTHEN the association? Symbols get their meaning from repeated use, surely more use means more well and widely understood meaning?
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The Geneva convention one always confuses me a bit. Doesn't having doctors and medical supplies marked with the red cross STRENGTHEN the association? Symbols get their meaning from repeated use, surely more use means more well and widely understood meaning?
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polygon
wait. so you can have a gun but not brass knuckles? that's lke banning rocket launchers but letting people have tanks.
to be fair it's not the dumbest things that are banned, while guns aren't, like kinder eggs and adult toys.
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wait. so you can have a gun but not brass knuckles? that's lke banning rocket launchers but letting people have tanks.
to be fair it's not the dumbest things that are banned, while guns aren't, like kinder eggs and adult toys.
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-jarrodnash8228
Tattoo's in video games would definetly fall under fair use, since you're coming for the game and not the tattoo. People are only getting away with these lawsuits because no one sees the games industry as legit
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Tattoo's in video games would definetly fall under fair use, since you're coming for the game and not the tattoo. People are only getting away with these lawsuits because no one sees the games industry as legit
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-BiFurDoggy
The last bit reminds me
A selling point of Arma 3 before it came out was that you could wear an enemy's uniform and spy on them.
They got rid of this when they realized that was actually a war crime.
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The last bit reminds me
A selling point of Arma 3 before it came out was that you could wear an enemy's uniform and spy on them.
They got rid of this when they realized that was actually a war crime.
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polygon
I understand where the tattoo artist is coming from, but I personally think once you insert a piece of art PERMANENTLY INTO SOMEONES SKIN they should probably own the rights to it too
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I understand where the tattoo artist is coming from, but I personally think once you insert a piece of art PERMANENTLY INTO SOMEONES SKIN they should probably own the rights to it too
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-jackiekerner2627
Neopets broke the Geneva Convention too when it used the red cross on the original art for some of its in game medicine. After getting in trouble, they switched it to green.
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Neopets broke the Geneva Convention too when it used the red cross on the original art for some of its in game medicine. After getting in trouble, they switched it to green.
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-logan_page
I'm inclined to disagree with the Red Cross one at the end. I'd argue that in games like Stardew Valley in particular it made people more aware of what that symbol means.
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I'm inclined to disagree with the Red Cross one at the end. I'd argue that in games like Stardew Valley in particular it made people more aware of what that symbol means.
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-NavySteampunk
jenna your tattoo is gorgeous i love it. as is your haircut and that lipstick color on you.
(i hope my gay isnt showing too strongly youre just very pretty)
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jenna your tattoo is gorgeous i love it. as is your haircut and that lipstick color on you.
(i hope my gay isnt showing too strongly youre just very pretty)
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-sarahweldon8189
The thing is, the Red Cross symbol is outside of Harvey-s medical clinic. So it fits. The use of it is to represent medical care. And that-s what Harvey is.
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The thing is, the Red Cross symbol is outside of Harvey-s medical clinic. So it fits. The use of it is to represent medical care. And that-s what Harvey is.
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-Dumbassfish63
Took me a while to realise the guy in the middle of the thumbnail was the doctor from stardew valley not a stardew valley-ised version of the unraveled guy
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Took me a while to realise the guy in the middle of the thumbnail was the doctor from stardew valley not a stardew valley-ised version of the unraveled guy
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-nobodxy
But in the game the red cross is on the hospital/med kit so it further strengthens the symbols meaning as a medical indicator so how does it dilute the meaning?
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But in the game the red cross is on the hospital/med kit so it further strengthens the symbols meaning as a medical indicator so how does it dilute the meaning?
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polygon
I like how both Jenna and Brian have read through Geneva Conventions for Polygon videos.
Also, this video is so helpful for fleshing out her backstory.
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I like how both Jenna and Brian have read through Geneva Conventions for Polygon videos.
Also, this video is so helpful for fleshing out her backstory.
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-Spooky_Dooky
For the games that use the red cross as a marker for health packs and such. It doesn't really dillute the meaning at all. It still represents aid.
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For the games that use the red cross as a marker for health packs and such. It doesn't really dillute the meaning at all. It still represents aid.
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-Athrun000
The Red Cross one is so lame; it's like arguing the use of EXIT signs will make people less likely to take the sign seriously IRL.
DAFUQ!
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The Red Cross one is so lame; it's like arguing the use of EXIT signs will make people less likely to take the sign seriously IRL.
DAFUQ!
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-KairosYTT
I believe that using a symbol in a digital space is significantly different than opening a pizza restaurant with the red cross on it but ok
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I believe that using a symbol in a digital space is significantly different than opening a pizza restaurant with the red cross on it but ok
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-devonbrook
When Polygon does a charity stream, they now need to add 'Jenna will attempt to steal the Hollywood sign' as a stretch goal of some sort.
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When Polygon does a charity stream, they now need to add 'Jenna will attempt to steal the Hollywood sign' as a stretch goal of some sort.
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