Thomas Van Der Voort has been hit by a lawsuit by Spyder Games and Speedy Simulator Gaming. According to both companies, the developer allegedly copied their game within the Fortnite Island Creator Program. In a report from Aftermath, Van Der Voort’s game, titled Stealing Brainrots, released just two months after their own Steal A Brainrot game, infringes on their copyright. What did the developer do to get on the bad side of these two companies?
Steal A Brainrot Versus The Imitation
They argue that Van Der Voort’s game replicates Steal a Brainrot‘s protected expressions, including specific user interfaces, in-game objects, artwork, and the overall level design and aesthetic. What are the chances that these two games possibly share so many specific details merely by coincidence? To prove the differences in each game, the plaintiffs clarified that their similarities aren’t just simple functional necessities or generic traits common to the genre.
Instead, they alleged that the unique creative choices that define Steal A Brainrot were purposefully duplicated in a series of conscious decisions. Significantly, games within the Fortnite Creator Program have shown the ability to generate real revenue for their developers. Attorney Adam Starr, representative of Spyder Games and Speedy Simulator Gaming, told Aftermath that his clients are taking this action to protect their intellectual property, for which they secured a copyright in August.
A Tale of Two Terrifyingly Similar Games
Although Starr mentioned a preference for cooperative resolutions, both companies confirmed a readiness to take legal steps to safeguard their work. Currently, the legal system is allowing the fallout from this Steal a Brainrot dispute to play out. The complaining parties aim to settle these claims in front of a jury trial, where they seek all the damages and profits attributable to the allegedly infringing Stealing Brainrot game. It’s uncertain how many people would want to see a carbon copy of a game profit from another’s creative sweat. If anything is promised from this legal fallout, it’ll be as dramatic as any in-game battle.
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