As part of a crackdown on cheat developers, Take-Two Interactive Software, the parent company of Grand Theft Auto’s publisher, Rockstar Games, has obtained a court order to have two Melbourne properties searched.

The search order will allow lawyers to enter the target residences and their owners’ vehicles to search, copy and remove all relevant evidence, computers or storage devices. The action has been issued against five individuals identified as Christopher Anderson, Cycus Lesser, Sfinktah, Koroush Anderson, and Koroush Jeddian.

The five are accused of creating the Infamous cheat, which for a AU$40 (£30) fee allowed users to manipulate the game environment, generate virtual currency and use a ‘god mode’ a feature that makes the player invincible. While some feel this is harmless fun others argue that it undermines the integrity of the game and ruins it for other gamers.

Defendants Risk Imprisonment For Failure to Comply

The Federal Court of Australia has ordered several enforcement actions, including a freezing order preventing the suspected cheat developers from taking out more money than needed for regular expenses. This order also applies to cryptocurrency and other digital currency, including money stored in one of the defendant’s PayPal accounts.

The order states: “You must not remove from Australia or in any way dispose of, deal with or diminish the value of any of your assets in Australia (Australian assets) up to the unencumbered value of AU$286,609.80 (the Relevant Amount).”

It is likely that Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive Software will seek to obtain copyright-related damages. This freeze order will ensure that the accused will be unable to spend any profits before the trial.

On top of that, they have been banned from engaging in any form of cheating-related activity. If they fail to cooperate with the restraint they risk imprisonment. According to Torrent Freak, who first reported the searches, the raids took place late last month with two lawyers from Bird & Bird, the law firm representing the gaming behemoth, in attendance.

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