Funko Responds as Itch.io Recovers from Shut Down by AI-Powered Brandshield

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 in Private Discussions with Itch.io

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

Funko stated they've contacted Itch.io to address the issue directly and thanked the gaming community for its understanding while the situation is clarified.

However, Itch.io's owner, Leaf, provided a more nuanced account on Hacker News. He described the incident not as a simple takedown request, but 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. Leaf also noted, a detail omitted from Funko's statement, that Funko's team contacted his mother.

For a comprehensive overview of the incident, refer to Game8's previous report on Itch.io's shutdown.