Funko has issued a statement regarding the temporary suspension of the Itch.io indie game marketplace, reportedly triggered by its brand protection software. Let's delve into Funko's response.
Funko Clarifies: No Platform-Wide Takedown Requested
Funko's official X (formerly Twitter) account addressed the situation, emphasizing its respect for the indie gaming community. They confirmed that their brand protection partner, BrandShield, flagged an Itch.io page mimicking a Funko Fusion development site, leading to a takedown request. Crucially, Funko stated they did not request a complete shutdown of Itch.io and expressed relief at its swift restoration.
Funko is now in private discussions with Itch.io to resolve the matter and appreciates the community's understanding.
Itch.io's Perspective: More Than a Simple Takedown
However, Itch.io owner Leaf offered a different perspective on Hacker News. He described the incident not as a simple takedown request, but as a "fraud and phishing report" sent to both the hosting provider and domain registrar. The registrar's automated system reacted by taking down the entire domain, despite Leaf's immediate action to remove the offending page. Furthermore, Leaf revealed (information omitted from Funko's statement) that Funko's team contacted his mother.
For a comprehensive account of the Itch.io shutdown, refer to Game8's previous report.
