Indie game marketplace Itch.io was temporarily taken offline due to a dispute with Funko, the company behind popular collectibles like Funko Pop figures. According to Itch.io, Funko used its “AI-powered” brand protection software, BrandShield, to create a false phishing report that led to the site’s registrar disabling its domain.
Itch.io claims it took immediate action by removing the disputed page and notes that its registrar ignored their response, prompting them to wait out the situation. If the downtime exceeds eight hours, the site plans to deploy a new domain through third-party services.
The issue is largely resolved, with Itch.io now back online. The situation highlights the complexities of brand protection and AI-powered tools in preventing online disputes.
Source: https://www.gamesradar.com/games/indie-game-marketplace-itch-io-goes-down-as-it-claims-funko-pop-company-used-ai-powered-brand-protection-to-create-some-bogus-phishing-report