Hi everyone,
I just found out that one of my games made with GDevelop has been published on two different websites without my permission. I never uploaded it there, so someone clearly downloaded the files and rehosted them.
This is really frustrating and makes me worry about how to protect my other games in the future.
Is there something we, as developers, can do to prevent this?
And what does the GDevelop team recommend or plan to do about this kind of situation?
Thanks.
don’t make them accessible to be able to be downloaded, don’t post your files anywhere
Well I’m sorry for you, how heartbreaking.
Not sure how to protect against it, will look forward to reading further replies.
Can you send the websites a copyright notice and takedown request?
Hello Kruger,
Man… that’s really sad…
Maybe this topic can help you: [Solved] My game was stolen! - #3 by mega
No files anywhere, they just stole it from Gd.games
@Kruger Can I see the game on the pirated site.
I replied to you yesterday 11h ago
But as you see its awaiting approval
I just not gonna wait anymore
Delete message and just share links
https://wiki.gdevelop.io/gdevelop5/extensions/urltools/
https://wiki.gdevelop.io/gdevelop5/extensions/authorized-platforms-validation/
I don’t think there’s much you can legally do about it.
Once you upload to the GD Games website, your game becomes what they call public domain, so your audience can pretty much do what they want with it.
Thieves are even present on itch.io, it’s not limited to gd.games, but across the web.
GDevelop have protections on gd.games, but like everything on internet people are stealing and copying. There is always a way to scrap and parse the content even when protections exists.
GDevelop don’t and cannot deposit copryrights on your creations.
Your game is yours.
And what does the GDevelop team recommend or plan to do about this kind of situation?
Like ZeroS4 explain this is the best solution: Platforms Validation - GDevelop documentation
That’s a real good solution!
If you know how to out them down would be appreciated 
While the second extension seems clear and really useful, thank you, the first one confuse me a little bit about how it works and how i can use it to prevent steals
Thank you for clarifying, I see this extension is really useful — it would have been amazing to know about it earlier! It would be great if this aspect of development could be covered on the YouTube channel as well.
1st of all
It says in my language its blocked
Maybe opera gx cannot open it?
Anyway actually Arthuro told me once on discord when i told other user to use that platform validation
To instead use url tools cause its better
I did not bother to ask HOW its better
I just took his word for it considering he have much better understanding of it
this is 100% incorrect
Wow, that’s really sad. I feel sorry for you man.
Shame your game got stolen, same thing happened to me before (the thread @Rasterisko linked to was one that I made).
What you should try to do is report the game and try to get it taken down. It took a week (and multiple reports) for my game to get taken of y8.com. Also, upload screenshots of your game in the editor during the support phase of the report as proof.
Unfortunately, not all websites make it easy for someone to report a game and take it down.
Also, I know this is unrelated, but another case similar to people stealing other peoples web games are people who take APK’s of games of the play store, and offer them for download, that’s just free malware with your name on it.
I was thinking about your issue
And this is not a joke and i am very serious with my question
You are not selling your game
You don’t have in game purchases (well if you would then it would be better in this situation)
What is your problem?
1 - Isn’t that indication you made good game so in fact you should be happy?
2 - Dosen’t that means popularity for your IP so in the end its a good thing?
Am i missing something here?
I have on my phone games from which i removed ads not to mention ones in which i gave myself tons of money
While right now you can download any game even one behind which are rich companies
And THEY did not have any means to protect themselves
And now i see your question and i wonder did you just realize in what situation we all are as devs
BTW you can use many legal sites to download audio/video and whatever files from other sites
I have add on in opera which allows me to do that
Imagine it works for gd games
But that is just something you should keep in mind
ANYWAY
IF we talk about browser game then i remember Arthuro recommended this
Ok i don’t remember which exactly
BUT i am more than sure its one of these
https://wiki.gdevelop.io/gdevelop5/extensions/urltools/
https://wiki.gdevelop.io/gdevelop5/extensions/authorized-platforms-validation/
If you ask me to bet on one i would bet on url tools i believe this is one Arthuro recommended where autorized platforms validation is one i found and Arthuro told me url tools is better
So at beginning of scene or at some random intervals you could compare site URL if it does not change scene to some other scene
And in that other scene you could simply just have text object
That to play this game you need to go to gd games or whatever
You are wrong if you have legitimate proof the game is yours you can pursue legal action.
