A group of volunteer developers have been hit with a lawsuit by game developer Blizzard Entertainment. The software, bnetd, allows users to bypass Blizzard's proprietary Battle.Net software and engage in multiplayer gaming without having to access Blizzard's servers.
Blizzard claims that the developers violated the Digital Millenium Copyright Act by 'reverse engineering' its Battle.Net software to create the freeware 'clone'. They also claim that 'bnetd' is engaging in an unauthorised public performance of Blizzard's copyright material (games) and that the name of the software itself is an infringement on Blizzard's 'Battle.Net' trademark.
The software developers are now being represented by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, who are helping the group to fight the lawsuit.