Funko Responds as Itch.io Recovers from Shut Down by AI-Powered Brandshield

Funko has issued a statement regarding the temporary shutdown of Itch.io, reportedly triggered by its brand protection software, BrandShield. Let's delve into Funko's response.

Funko's Statement and Private Discussions with Itch.io

Funko's official X (formerly Twitter) post expressed its strong support for the indie gaming community, emphasizing its appreciation for indie developers and gamers. The company acknowledged that BrandShield flagged an Itch.io page mimicking the Funko Fusion development website, leading to a takedown request. Crucially, Funko clarified that it did not request a complete shutdown of Itch.io and expressed relief at the platform's swift restoration.

Funko confirmed it's now in direct communication with Itch.io to address the situation and thanked the gaming community for its understanding while the matter is resolved.

However, Itch.io's owner, Leaf, provided further context on Hacker News. He revealed the incident wasn't a simple takedown request but a "fraud and phishing report" sent 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 remove the offending page. Leaf also noted, though unmentioned in Funko's statement, that Funko's team contacted his mother.

For a more detailed account of the Itch.io shutdown, refer to Game8's previous article.