**Denuvo Takes Legal Action Against Game Cracker “voices38” for DMCA Violation**
Digital rights management software provider Denuvo has initiated legal proceedings against an anonymous game cracker known only as “voices38” in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. The company accuses the individual or group of infringing the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) by circumventing their anti-tamper technology across 26 games, including popular titles such as *Black Myth: Wukong*, *Resident Evil Requiem*, and *Doom: The Dark Ages*.
On September 14th, Denuvo filed a DMCA complaint, alleging that voices38 has effectively bypassed DRM protections that copyright owners rely on to control access to their content. This action has permitted the distribution of pirated versions of these games, hence violating the rights of their copyright holders. Denuvo’s legal argument does not arise from a traditional claim of copyright infringement, as they do not own the rights to the games themselves. Instead, they are invoking a specific provision of US copyright law that makes it illegal to bypass digital locks on copyrighted works or to distribute tools that aid in overcoming such protections.
The company is seeking damages from voices38, along with an injunction against the removal of anti-tamper software from any existing or future video games. Denuvo’s challenge is compounded by their inability to accurately identify the individual or collective behind the alias “voices38.” They have only managed to pinpoint a Discord ID, a Reddit account, and several Steam profiles believed to be associated with the cracker, naming the defendant as an “unknown individual or entity,” along with ten other unnamed defendants.
According to reports from Torrent Freak, Denuvo’s filing could be a strategic move to obtain permission from the court to subpoena Valve, Reddit, and Discord in order to gather further information about the responsible party. A successful outcome for Denuvo may not only deter other potential game crackers but also enhance their ability to remove download links for software designed to bypass Denuvo’s protections.
Despite the legal challenges posed by Denuvo, voices38 appears undeterred by the lawsuit. A comment allegedly made by the cracker on Reddit suggests a nonchalant attitude towards the legal proceedings, stating, “All is fine. Everything will continue as normal.”
While the cracks provided by voices38 can facilitate game piracy, many users seek to eliminate Denuvo protections for reasons beyond simply accessing games illegally. Denuvo’s anti-tamper technology is known to obfuscate and encrypt game code, which can lead to performance issues, a topic of significant debate among gamers. In 2023, Denuvo announced intentions to establish an independent testing initiative, promising to demonstrate that its DRM does not adversely affect game performance. However, as of now, this initiative has yet to be realized.
Another point of contention surrounding Denuvo relates to its requirement for online checks to function correctly, raising concerns about game preservation and access in the long term. As the case progresses, it remains to be seen how it will influence the broader debate about digital rights management and the game’s ecosystem.
