The Cyberleek mascot.Credit: Cyberleek / Mashable Photo Composite
Take-Two Interactive Software, the parent company of Grand Theft Auto-maker Rockstar Games, is stepping up its efforts to unmask the anonymous leaker known as Cyberleek, who is still actively sharing GTA 6 leaks online.
On Aug. 21, Take-Two asked the U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York to sign subpoenas against Google and X Corp to compel them “to produce the identity of entities or persons believed to be infringing on the copyright of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.”
One of the subpoenas includes a copy of a Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown request sent to X, which seemingly confirms the leaked gameplay videos posted by Cyberleek are legitimate. While an earlier subpoena filed by Take-Two referenced “stolen content,” the latest filing contains even more details.
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Take-Two requested that X Corp remove “Images and videos extracted from an unreleased copyrighted work GTA VI,” as the takedown request states. In addition, Take-Two also wrote, “The reported post contains unauthorized, leaked gameplay footage from the unreleased game Grand Theft Auto VI. This material reproduces our Client’s copyrighted, unreleased game assets and was published and distributed without any authorization from the copyright holder. The content is presented as genuine leaked Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay from Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., and its distribution constitutes unauthorized reproduction and public disclosure of our Client’s copyrighted work.” (Emphasis added by Mashable.)
A DMCA takedown request sent to Google includes screenshots of Cyberleek videos posted to YouTube.Credit: U.S. District Court – Southern District of New York
YouTube indicated that it complied with the takedown request in an email included with a recent subpeona.Credit: U.S. District Court – Southern District of New York
The action against Google and X Corp follows two similar subpoena requests filed against Microsoft and Discord, as Mashable reported on Friday. It’s all part of Take-Two’s ongoing efforts to scrub Cyberleek’s videos from the web, while also identifying the leaker’s digital footprints.
“The DMCA Subpoena is directed to X Corp., the service provider of an account with the username @cyberleek_ar_io. Infringing content was postedent infringes copyrights held by Take-Two for GRAND THEFT AUTO VI, proprietary software owned by Take-Two. The copyrighted material includes but is not limited to audiovisual content, artwork, images, dialogue, or other creative elements.”
Likewise, the subpoena directed to Google states, “This infringing content is believed to be associated with the following online personas: CyberLeeks, Surfer24k, CyberLeek_ar_io.”
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Cyberleek seems undaunted by Take-Two’s investigation, and they recently released more alleged gameplay footage showing a nudist colony, a gas station carjacking, and glimpses of a cutscene.
In fact, Cyberleek has been very busy over the past week, posting new Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay videos, polls, and map images on a daily basis. Scheduled for release on Nov. 19, the game has been in development for over a decade and has been subject to repeated delays, making it one of the most highly anticipated video games of all time. Before the GTA 6 leaks started, Rockstar announced it would finally debut an “extended look” at the game on Netflix on Aug. 27, but Cyberleek has disrupted those promotional plans.
Even as YouTube, X, and Discord remove infringing content, the GTA 6 leaks are still easy to find, and they’re spreading widely on social media.
Meanwhile, the subpoenas provide a glimpse into Take-Two and Rockstar’s efforts to unmask the leaker.
In the original Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) takedown requests filed on Aug. 21, Take-Two demanded that Microsoft remove infringing material posted on a specific Github repository associated with Cyberleek. That repository was still online Friday, but the URL now produces a 404 error. In its filing against Discord, Take-Two requested information related to specific Discord users and servers.
Take-Two is seeking a wide range of data from Google, X Corp, Microsoft, and Discord. For the accounts associated with Cyberleek, the company is demanding the account ID, server metadata, telemetry records, original message logs, IP access logs, email addresses, phone numbers, connected accounts, registration timestamps, and any device identifiers.
If caught, Cyberleek will almost certainly face criminal charges, though that depends on how they obtained the leaked material and where the leaker is located.
So far, Rockstar Games and Take-Two haven’t said anything about the alleged leaks outside of the subpoena requests. Mashable has contacted both companies repeatedly with questions, and we’ll update this story if we receive a response.
TopicsGamingVideo GamesGrand Theft Auto
Timothy Beck Werth is the Tech Editor at Mashable, where he leads coverage and assignments for the Tech and Shopping verticals. Tim has over 15 years of experience as a journalist and editor, and he has particular experience covering and testing consumer technology, smart home gadgets, and men’s grooming and style products. Previously, he was the Managing Editor and then Site Director of SPY.com, a men’s product review and lifestyle website. As a writer for GQ, he covered everything from bull-riding competitions to the best Legos for adults, and he’s also contributed to publications such as The Daily Beast, Gear Patrol, and The Awl.
Tim studied print journalism at the University of Southern California. He currently splits his time between Brooklyn, NY and Charleston, SC. He’s currently working on his second novel, a science-fiction book.
