A recent ruling from a California court mandates that X Corp (formerly known as Twitter) must reveal the identities of four individuals accused of leaking content related to the popular game Genshin Impact. This decision stems from a DMCA subpoena filed by Cognosphere, the game’s publisher, in 2023. The court rejected X Corp’s attempt to block the subpoena, stating that concerns about First Amendment protections were not applicable in this case.
Background of the Case
Cognosphere, which manages the global publishing rights for Genshin Impact, sought a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) subpoena to uncover the personal information of the owners behind four specific Twitter accounts:
- @HutaoLoverGI
- @GIHutaoLover
- @HutaoLover77
- @FurinaaLover
These accounts were reportedly involved in leaking sensitive game content before its official release. Cognosphere’s request to reveal the leakers’ identities included the disclosure of names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses.
X Corp’s Challenge
X Corp opposed the DMCA subpoena, arguing that such action should be supported by stronger legal grounds, particularly in relation to First Amendment rights. The company sought judicial intervention to determine whether the subpoena met the necessary criteria to override the anonymous users’ free speech protections.
However, the court ruled in favor of Cognosphere, stating that the nature of the leaks—early disclosures of in-game content—did not constitute “core First Amendment expression”. The judge concluded that Cognosphere had acted in good faith and presented a prima facie case of copyright violation, justifying the issuance of the subpoena.
Prior Actions by Cognosphere
This case is not Cognosphere’s first effort to address leaks. In 2021, after a significant leak about an upcoming update to Genshin Impact, Cognosphere declared its intention to intensify efforts against unauthorized disclosures. This led to a lawsuit in 2022 against Discord, where Cognosphere similarly aimed to reveal the identity of a prominent leaker, Ubatcha.
Court’s Response to X Corp’s Arguments
The court’s ruling also delivered a strong rebuke to X Corp’s legal strategy. Judge Peter H. Kang criticized X’s approach, suggesting that its consistent attempts to contest DMCA subpoenas unnecessarily complicated proceedings. He stated that X’s legal team had “ethical and professional duties” to only challenge subpoenas when there is a justified reason to do so, and that such disputes should generally be resolved without requiring court intervention.
Judge Kang emphasized that there is nothing in the DMCA preventing X Corp from cooperating on legitimate requests for information, particularly when it concerns clear copyright infringement.
For more information about the verdict, you can consult this link.
