When Chinese developers first entered the gaming industry, many gamers recall how these ventures often resulted in low-quality products blatantly copying existing content with minimal modifications. This rampant plagiarism was further exacerbated by the difficulty of holding these developers accountable legally, effectively shielding their unethical practices.
While the industry has significantly evolved over the past decade, instances of misconduct still occasionally surface. Recently, Koei Tecmo considered legal action against a Chinese developer for such infringements.
The accused, Yoozoo Games, a Chinese developer headquartered in Singapore, faced allegations from Koei Tecmo for unauthorized use of game assets and music. Koei Tecmo accused Yoozoo of incorporating elements from games like Nobunaga’s Ambition and Taiko Risshinden into their advertisements and applications without proper authorization, despite prior warnings to cease such actions.
In a surprising turn, the matter was resolved amicably rather than in court. Yoozoo Games acknowledged their unauthorized use of Koei Tecmo’s assets and publicly apologized. This peaceful resolution included compensation to Koei Tecmo, though the exact amount remains undisclosed, along with Yoozoo’s commitment to refrain from similar conduct in the future.
This outcome is favorable for Koei Tecmo, sparing them the expenses and complexities of a legal battle. Whether Yoozoo Games will adhere to their promises remains to be seen
