The itch.io web site is offline, with the blame positioned squarely on Funko.
In a tweet, the indie recreation market alleged that Funko, greatest identified for its Funko Pop figures, used “some trash AI-powered model safety software program” that created what it referred to as a “bogus” phishing report back to the web site’s registrar.
I child you not, @itchio has been taken down by @OriginalFunko as a result of they use some trash “AI Powered” Brand Protection Software referred to as @BrandShieldltd that created some bogus Phishing report back to our registrar, @iwantmyname, who ignored our response and simply disabled the area
— itch.io (@itchio) December 9, 2024
itch.io claimed its registrar “ignored” its response and disabled the itch.io area, regardless of taking down the undisclosed disputed web page “as quickly as we acquired the discover as a result of it isn’t value preventing stuff like that.”
“Regardless, our registrar’s automated system seemingly kicked to disable the area since nobody learn our affirmation of elimination,” itch.io continued. “I hope you might be all having a pleasant Sunday night.”
IGN has requested itch.io proprietor Leaf Corcoran for remark.
The AI-powered model safety software program in query is BrandProtect, which, in line with its web site, “detects and hunts on-line trademark infringement, counterfeit gross sales and model abuse throughout a number of platforms: web sites, social media (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest and many others), marketplaces (Amazon, eBay, AliExpress and many others), paid advertisements and cellular apps.”
The impression right here is critical; with itch.io offline, all hosted initiatives are inaccessible, even to their homeowners. This goes past indie builders promoting their video games, too, with some utilizing itch.io to host non-video recreation initiatives. One person responded to itch.io’s announcement tweet to say they’d an task uploaded to the web site, “and that is what I was my professor so if it is down they cannot give me a grade :(“
itch.io responded to say it’s now ready for its registrar to reply. “We’ve despatched extra emails asking that WTF is happening,” it stated.
In a subsequent tweet, itch.io stated it’ll “wait this one out” and resist placing up a brand new area. “In the meantime, if you know the way to tweak your hosts file use: 45.33.107.166,” it tweeted.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
