The “extensive similarities” have Riot pushing for damages
Riot Games is suing over the similarities it’s found in a NetEase game to its ownValorant. A new suit filed by Riot claims that NetEase’sHyper Frontis a copy of the tactical shooterValorant.
As reported on byPolygon, Riot has field suit over NetEase’sHyper Front, which is also a team-based tactical shooter. According to thefiling, Riot claimsHyper Frontis a copy of “substantial parts” ofValorant.
Valorantlaunched onPC in 2020, and Riot iscurrently developinga mobile version. Meanwhile,Hyper Frontwas released in 2022 for mobile platforms on iOS and Android.
In the suit, Riot lays out the similarities. It’s not just the number of players, but Riot points directly at maps, character designs, weapons, and even the raw numbers from the weapons. There are actual spreadsheets in the filing, comparing the data.
Rushing the point
Riot does note that NetEase made modifications to Hyper Front following the first complaints. However, the infringement goes further.
“All of our creative choices are mirrored in NetEase’s game,” said Riot Games layer Dan Nabel to Polygon. “We don’t think that changing the color of a character ability or slightly modifying the visual appearance changes the fact that it’s copyright infringement. It’s like that old saying, ‘You can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig.'”
Riot Games is seeking an injunction, which would likely essentially shut downHyperFront, and “substantial”, but unspecified, figures for damages. It’s also litigating the claim in several courts around the world.
“We don’t want to rely on one particular market to have this issue resolved,” Nabel told Polygon. “NetEase is a global publisher, as are we. We want them to know that we take the matter very seriously.”
