Steam Workshop Targeted by Allegedly Fraudulent DMCA Claims

Steam Workshop is being reportedly targeted by trolls exploiting the DMCA to file allegedly fraudulent copyright claims against mods. The modders must file proof that their work doesn’t infringe copyrights thereafter; this process, according to user reports, requires modders give Valve personal information, which not all modders are willing to do. Some older mods are also created by users who have since changed their account, or are simply not active anymore. 

Upon being hit with a DMCA, the mod has a note written at the top, which states: 

“A DMC Notice of Copyright Infringement has been filed on this item. Valve will review the complaint and reach out to the person who posted this item and provide details and information on the next steps.” 

Despite players calling Valve to take action, community user reports believe that Valve can’t really do much about it, as the platform is legally bound to follow DMCA rules. 

Some examples were listed, including Hearts of Iron IV mod for Looming Rising of Darkness. This mod is based on an older mod called The Fire Rises; the two mod developers got into a conflict, resulting in The Fire Rises’ development team filing a DMC report against Looming Rising of Darkness. Though the two supposedly compromised, the DMCA report against Looming Rise of Darkness was not withdrawn, resulting in the mod’s removal.