GamesIndie game marketplace Itch.io goes down as it claims Funko Pop company used “AI-powered” brand protection to create “some bogus phishing report"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GamesIndie game marketplace Itch.io goes down as it claims Funko Pop company used “AI-powered” brand protection to create “some bogus phishing report"When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Extremely OK Games)
Update, December 10, 2024:
Overnight, the owner of the Itch.io Twitter account alleged that Funko attempted to contact their mom over the matter. “This is not a joke, Funko just called my mom,“they claim, sharing a message screenshotwhich says: “Got a strange call about accusatory screenshots on your social media account. Call me.”
“We have reached out to Itch.io to engage with them on this issue and we deeply appreciate the understanding of the gaming community as the details are determined. Thank you for sharing in our passion for creativity,” it concludes.
At Funko, we hold a deep respect and appreciation for indie games, indie gamers, and indie developers. We’re fans of fans, and we love the creativity and passion that define the indie gaming community.Recently, one of our brand protection partners identified a page on…December 9, 2024
At Funko, we hold a deep respect and appreciation for indie games, indie gamers, and indie developers. We’re fans of fans, and we love the creativity and passion that define the indie gaming community.Recently, one of our brand protection partners identified a page on…December 9, 2024
Furthermore, in a statement sent to GamesRadar+, brand protection company BrandShield reiterates that a takedown was requested for a specific URL rather than the whole website. “BrandShield serves as a trusted partner to many global brands. Our AI-driven platform detects potential threats and provides analysis; then our team of Cybersecurity Threat hunters and IP lawyers decide on what actions should be taken,” it explains. “In this case, an abuse was identified from the Itch.io subdomain. We identified and reported the infringement, and requested a takedown of the URL in question – not of the entire Itch.io domain.
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Original story, December 9, 2024:
Indie game distribution site Itch.io has been offline today, and it has a truly bizarre reason as to why.
Itch.io might not be as huge a platform asSteam, but it’s a major cornerstone of the indie gaming community, as it gives devs a place to distribute and sell their games, host game jams, and give players a chance to find new gems and play some of thebest indie games. Today, though, users might have had some trouble accessing it at all, and Itch.io alleges that it’s the result of collectible manufacturing company Funko (ofFunko Popfame) and a “bogus phishing report.”
But what happens now? Around an hour ago, the site followed up on the situation to say it’s “probably going to wait this one out,” noting: “We considered putting up a new domain but there are implications with third-party services that make it not a trivial swap.”
Even so, it added that if the downtime ends up lasting more than eight hours, “we’ll likely prioritize deploying a new domain.” Right now, the site appears to be live again, although this hasn’t yet been acknowledged on its official social media pages, so it’s not clear if the situation is fully resolved yet.
Be sure to check out our roundup ofupcoming indie gamesto see what new gems are on the horizon.
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1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
1
Nemesis review: “A magical sense of tension”
2Arcs review: “A whole lot of game in a small package”
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Nightbitch review: “Amy Adams' disappointing dark comedy is all bark and no bite”
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2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
2Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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Secret Level review: “An uneven experience with serious highlights that ultimately make up for the misses”
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3Skeleton Crew review: “Perfectly captures the vibes of classic Star Wars with a swashbuckling twist”
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4Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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Creature Commandos review: “James Gunn’s heartwarming, R-rated tale about super-monsters proves that the DCU is in good hands”
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5Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”
5
Cobra Kai season 6, part 2 review: “Returns to the sort of hard-hitting form that made it such a fan favorite in the first place”