Poppy Playtime developer, Mob Entertainment, is suing Google for not taking enough action against imitations and scams using its works. Google is protected under safe harbor, but the dev believes those rights have been forfeited as the game remains up to this day.
TorrentFreak (via VGC) reports on the lawsuit. What makes this matter worse is the same two games — Poppy Playtime: Chapter 3 and Poppy Playtime: Chapter 4 — attributed to Daigo Game 2020 Inc. remain up, even after Google acknowledged receiving the takedown request. The game not only shares Mob Entertainment’s game name, but also characters and logos.
Smash Jump can confirm the apps remain up at the time of writing. Moreover, the app has been downloaded over a million times and offers little to nothing, supposedly even attempting to scam players, as it encourages them to buy a “Guide wuggy playtime mod” for anywhere between $30 to $95. After purchase, it brings them to a dead webpage.
Mob Entertainment is seeking statutory damages from both Daigo and Google to the tune of $150,000 per work.
Below you’ll find a timeline of events:
- October 31, 2024: Takedown request sent for unauthorized Poppy Playtime Chapter 3 app
- November 1, 2024: Google confirms receipt
- December 5, 2024: No response, Mob Entertainment sends a follow-up
- December 9, 2024: Google responds, stating that the app will be removed
- December 9, 2024: Google removes “Poppy Playtime Chapter 3”
- December 13, 2024: “Poppy Playtime Chapter 3” returns to the Play Store (same URL)
- December 13, 2024: Mob Entertainment informs Google that the app returned
- December 16, 2024: Google confirms receipt
- December 19, 2024: Mob Entertainment sends another DMCA takedown notice
- December 19, 2024: Google asks the developer to use the web-based takedown form
- December 30, 2024: Takedown request sent for unauthorized Poppy Playtime Chapter 4
- December 30, 2024: Google confirms receipt
