Funko has issued a statement regarding the temporary shutdown of Itch.io, allegedly caused by their brand protection software, BrandShield. The statement, released on X (formerly Twitter), emphasizes Funko's respect for the indie gaming community.
Funko's Clarification and Ongoing Dialogue
Funko acknowledged that BrandShield flagged an Itch.io page mimicking the Funko Fusion development website, leading to a takedown request. Crucially, Funko clarified that they did not request a full takedown of Itch.io and expressed relief at the platform's swift restoration.
The company stated they are now in private discussions with Itch.io to address the issue and appreciate the gaming community's understanding.
However, Itch.io's owner, Leaf, provided a more detailed account on Hacker News. He described the incident not as a simple takedown request, but as a "fraud and phishing report" submitted to both the hosting provider and registrar. The registrar's automated system responded by taking down the entire domain, despite Leaf's immediate action to remove the offending page. Leaf also noted, unmentioned in Funko's statement, that Funko's team contacted his mother.
For further context on the Itch.io shutdown, please refer to Game8's previous report.
