Epic Games files suit against YouTubers over Fortnite cheats

Epic Games has filed a suit against two YouTubers, one with over one million subscribers, for using cheats while playing Fortnite and proudly demonstrating their use on their channels.

TorrentFreak reports that the suit, filed last week, is against Brandon Lucas and Colton Conter, both YouTubers who routinely play Fortnite and demonstrate aimbot cheats on their channels. Lucas' channel, Golden Modz, has over 1.7 million subscribers. Conter's, Exentric, has over 7,000.

Lucas in particular is also charged with selling cheats on a similarly-named website. Though the site had nothing for sale at the time of this piece, ahead of the lawsuit, it also sold cheats for Grand Theft Auto V and Call of Duty.

The lawsuit alleges that Lucas and Conter are in violation of the Copyright Act (by using cheats that modified the game's code), as well as a breach of contract (violating Fortnite's Terms of Service). Two further charges against Lucas in particular describe "intentional interference with contractual relations" and "unfair and deceptive trade practices" referring to the selling of cheats.

The suit further notes that both players have been banned as a result, but continue to make new accounts using false information. Epic says in the suit that it has issued takedown notices on Lucas and Conter's videos in the past.

Epic suggests that Lucas and Conter be permanently stopped from cheating in Fortnite, selling cheats, and creating videos about Fortnite cheats. In addition, Epic seeks to have the pair's videos with past cheating be taken down permanently, and for them to forfeit any profits from cheating and pay Epic damages and legal fees.