UKIE's Efforts to Safeguard Game Intellectual Property

The battle against piracy is an ongoing cat-and-mouse game, with companies continually developing new security measures, only for malicious actors to find ways to circumvent them. The UK video games trade body, UKIE, has been actively engaged in this fight since 2017, tracking 500 games and achieving significant success, including the removal of two million individual links and 50 offending websites. UKIE's approach involves sending takedown notices to websites hosting infringing content, leveraging the organization's clout to persuade them to comply. In cases where websites refuse to cooperate, UKIE seeks to disrupt their operations by removing links, making it harder for users to access pirated content. The process is similar for cyberlockers, which are password-protected storage sites that allow users to upload and download files. UKIE works with law enforcement agencies, such as the City of London Police's Intellectual Property Crime Unit, to report websites with advertising on them, which can lead to the removal of 'quality' ads. The organization also targets low-quality ads, which often appear on pirate sites. According to Ali, the majority of piracy is for PC titles, followed by the Switch, which is surprising given Nintendo's strict platform controls. UKIE's takedown rate is around 80%, higher than the average for other digital content. The organization estimates that 70% of links are removed within 24 hours, which can prevent users from downloading full game files. People crack games for various reasons, including technical challenges and profit motives. UKIE works with companies like CD Projekt, which doesn't use DRM on its games, instead relying on the quality of its products to encourage users to purchase them. The 'carrot' approach, which focuses on offering a good product, is an alternative to the 'stick' approach, which uses force or threats to combat piracy. UKIE also tackles other forms of IP infringement, such as merchandise sales, private servers, and in-game item sales. The organization works with marketplaces like Ebay, Amazon, and Redbubble to identify and remove listings for unofficial merchandise. While some sellers may be unaware of IP rights, UKIE works with them to educate them and remove infringing listings. Cloning is another significant issue in the game industry, with UKIE advising developers to trademark their game names and monitor app stores for similar titles. By taking proactive measures, developers can protect their IP and prevent cloning. UKIE's IP team can help identify and remove clones, and the organization encourages developers to make as many screenshots available as possible to demonstrate copyright infringement. Time is of the essence in removing clones, as app stores payout after a certain number of days, and removing an app quickly can prevent clone developers from collecting revenue.