Funko Secures Brand Protection with AI-Shield

Funko has issued a statement regarding the temporary closure of Itch.io, reportedly triggered by its brand protection software. Let's delve into Funko's response. Funko States No Request for Full Itch.io Takedown

Private Discussions Underway with Itch.io

Funko's official X (formerly Twitter) account addressed the incident, emphasizing their respect for the indie game community and its developers. They confirmed that a brand protection partner, BrandShield, flagged an Itch.io page mimicking the Funko Fusion development website, leading to a takedown request. Crucially, Funko clarified they didn't request the entire platform's shutdown and expressed relief at its swift restoration.

Funko stated they've contacted Itch.io to discuss the matter and appreciate the community's understanding while details are clarified.

However, Itch.io's owner, Leaf, provided a more nuanced account on Hacker News, revealing the takedown stemmed from a "fraud and phishing report," not merely a takedown request. This report was sent to both the hosting provider and registrar, with the latter's automated system taking down the entire domain despite Leaf's immediate action to resolve the issue. Leaf also noted that Funko's team contacted his mother, a detail omitted from Funko's official statement.

For more context, refer to Game8's previous report on Itch.io's temporary outage.