Confirmed Facts
Community Reports
Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, has filed multiple subpoena requests in federal district court. These subpoenas seek information related to the recent spread of Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay videos. The company has petitioned both Microsoft and Discord for the release of records connected to various online accounts involved in posting and sharing these leaks ahead of the game's November launch.
The subpoenas request user data and information about associated OneDrive or linked Xbox accounts. According to a petition filed with the Southern District Court of New York, the copyrighted material in question includes audiovisual content, artwork, images, dialogue, and other creative elements.
Take-Two's petition states that the purpose of the DMCA subpoena is to identify alleged infringers and that the information will only be used to protect Take-Two's rights. One petition references a GitHub repository where infringing content was posted, giving Microsoft until September 4 to produce all internal business records related to the investigation of a persona known as 'cyberleek.' This includes identifying information for user accounts that communicated on specific Discord servers.
Discord has been given the same deadline to provide records related to user accounts involved in discussions about the leaks. The subpoena specifically mentions accounts associated with the aliases 'CYBERLEEK,' 'CINEMATICROCKSTAR,' and 'Surfer24k™,' among others. Matthew 'Matt' Judge, a popular GTA 5 Twitch and YouTube streamer, noted on social media that he was mentioned by name in the subpoena and expressed confusion over the situation, stating he does not have any leaks in his Discord servers.
The identity of the individual or group responsible for disseminating gameplay clips revealing new features and parts of GTA 6 remains unknown. The clips have circulated under the alias 'Cyberleek,' which has also been associated with a manifesto calling for game companies to cease practices such as digital pre-orders and locking content behind paywalls. Additionally, the group appears to be leveraging the leaks to promote a cryptocurrency meme coin.
Background
Grand Theft Auto VI is set to launch in November, and the anticipation surrounding the game has led to heightened security measures to prevent leaks. Despite these efforts, multiple gameplay clips have surfaced online, showcasing never-before-seen aspects of the game.
The ongoing investigation by Take-Two highlights the company's commitment to protecting its intellectual property and ensuring that any unauthorized distribution of its content is addressed.
What This Means
The subpoenas filed by Take-Two against Microsoft and Discord underscore the seriousness of the situation regarding the leaks of GTA 6 gameplay footage. By seeking detailed user information, Take-Two aims to hold accountable those responsible for the unauthorized distribution of its content, potentially setting a precedent for how gaming companies handle leaks in the future.
