Grand Theft Auto publisher sues PlayerAuctions for illegal sale of modded accounts and virtual currency

Take-Two Interactive, the publisher of the Grand Theft Auto and Borderlands series, has filed a lawsuit against the online platform PlayerAuctions. The company is accused of selling "heavily modified" accounts, items, and virtual currency obtained through hacking software and cheats.

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The lawsuit was filed last week in the Central District Court of California. In it, Take-Two accuses the Chinese owner of PlayerAuctions, Paiao Network Technology, of running an "illegal enterprise". According to the publisher, the platform actively attracts sellers who use hacker software to create illegal content and provide prohibited services to GTA 5 players.

Take-Two claims that the PlayerAuctions platform hosts thousands of ads with illegal content for GTA 5. This includes modded accounts with high levels, virtual currency and game assets that are usually only available through gameplay or official purchases.

"PlayerAuctions threatens the balance and fairness of the game," the lawsuit says. Take-Two also notes that it has repeatedly asked the company to stop the infringement, but its requests have been ignored.

Take-Two Interactive demands:

• To prohibit PlayerAuctions from selling accounts, virtual goods and currency for GTA 5 and other games of the company.
• Prohibit the platform from facilitating hacking or infringement of Take-Two's copyrights and trademarks.
• Pay compensation for damages.

This is not the first lawsuit against PlayerAuctions. Last month, Roblox Corporation also filed a complaint against the platform for selling illegal content.

Source: Polygon