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 platform, allegedly triggered by their brand protection software. Let's delve into Funko's response. Funko Denies Ordering a Full Platform Shutdown

Private Discussions Underway With Itch.io

Funko's official X (formerly Twitter) account addressed the situation, emphasizing their "deep respect and appreciation for indie games, gamers, and developers." They acknowledged that their brand protection partner, BrandShield, flagged an Itch.io page mimicking the Funko Fusion development website, leading to a takedown request. However, Funko explicitly stated they did not request a complete platform shutdown and expressed relief at Itch.io's swift restoration.

Funko confirmed direct communication with Itch.io to resolve the matter and thanked the gaming community for their understanding while the details are clarified.

Itch.io's owner, Leaf, provided further context on Hacker News, revealing the takedown wasn't a simple request but a "fraud and phishing report" submitted to both the hosting provider and registrar. The registrar's automated system reacted by taking down the entire domain, despite Leaf's immediate action to rectify the problem. Leaf also noted that Funko's team contacted his mother, a detail omitted from Funko's official statement.

For a comprehensive account of the incident, please refer to Game8's previous article on Itch.io's temporary outage.