Youtuber “Eroktic” got into some trouble recently with Battlestate Games, the makers of Escape from Tarkov. The developers of the popular game have issued multiple Digital Millennium Copyright Act (or DMCA) claims against the Youtuber. Battlestate claims this is due to two videos in which he stated that player information from the Battlestate databases, such as passwords and personal info, had been leaked as a result of a data breach. Once the studio looked into the matter and found that there was, in fact, no breach, they began the process of copyright striking 44 of Eroktic’s videos (ending at a grand total of 47) featuring the game, claiming the videos spread “misinformation and hatred,” as well as perpetuated “negative hype” about the game, according to an explanation post on Facebook. Issues arise when the point of YouTube DMCA strikes are made to protect intellectual property from misuse, such as unlicensed use of copyrighted music in a video, not for allegedly spreading “misinformation and hatred.”
The strikes were not met with silence from Eroktic, however. The Youtuber took to Facebook himself for rebuttal, quoting the original response from Battlestate and refuting the claims point by point. The main point he stresses is that his videos point out negative aspects of the game, such as spawn issues, server issues, and sound issues, with Battlestate claiming that by pointing out the issues in the game, it was negative hype. “‘Negative hype’ means criticism,” says Eroktic. “And in my eyes, this feels like BSG does not want anyone that has something negative to say about their product, [and] deserves to be shut down.” While there is a lot of back and forth between the studio and Eroktic, each claiming the other is in the wrong, those following the issue have undoubtedly taken a side, as the Internet tends to do.
The community at large seems more supportive of Eroktic, rather than Battlestate Games, regarding the issue. The Escape from Tarkov community, while generally in agreement that it is a solid game, have decided to “take a step back” as one content creator for the game, “Klean,” stated on Twitter. Klean, in addition to being an avid player of the game, also hosts a podcast called Talking Tarkov. After the events of the past weekend between Eroktic and Battlestate, he says, “I have decided that I will no longer host the Talking Tarkov podcast. I feel what they have done is unethical and wrong.” As of now, Eroktic has gotten two of the 47 videos claimed against him back online, but only time will tell which side wins in this proverbial game of tug of war.