Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar, 2K Games and Hangar 13, has issued a DMCA takedown request to LukeRoss, a modder specializing in bringing VR support to modern games. LukeRoss has created VR mods for Cyberpunk 2077, GTA 5, and Red Dead Redemption 2, and is in the process of creating a VR mod for Elden Ring.
However, some of those mods are now in jeopardy. Well, the withdrawal request take-two orders Luke Ross to remove GTA 5, RDR2 and Mafia VR mods from his Patreon, a move Ross calls “anti-consumer and anti-gamer“.
“Take-Two Interactive is demanding that I remove all of their copyrighted works from my PatreonRoss wrote on his Patreon.I immediately asked for clarification as I believe I am not hosting any such material. As you all know, I do create and distribute original mods for these games, that is, original pieces of software of my own creation that allow users to experience those games in a different and, I hope, deeper and deeper way.“.
“However, none of my mods are built using software owned by Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc, and the mods are not intended to replace their games, nor are they a means of exploiting Take-Two’s intellectual property or assets. All my mods require users to purchase and own the games before they can add my mods“.
Ross notes that he has little experience with DMCA takedowns or copyright law and isn’t sure if take-two is required to provide some clarification. If not, Ross”will be forced to remove everything remotely related” with Take-Two Games to avoid a legal fight that could see their Patreon shut down.
“I honor and respect copyright and it has always been my intention to allow gamers to experience the wonderful worlds created by Rockstar and 2K (among other companies) in virtual reality, which only translates into greater customer satisfaction and more. copies sold for themRoss added. However, he also called the DMCA request take-two of “anti-consumer and anti-gamer movement for its part“.
It’s not the first time take-two issues these types of copyright petitions, even when it appears that copyright has not been infringed. Prior to the GTA Trilogy Remaster, Take-Two issued dozens of recalls against GTA modders.