Dark and Darker dev Ironmace ordered to pay Nexon $5.8 million for trade secret infringement

The authorized battle between Ironmace and Nexon concerning the previous’s debut sport, Dark and Darker, has come to an finish–though the decision is not a cut-and-dry victory for both aspect.

The 2 got here to authorized blows after Nexon filed a lawsuit towards Ironmace in 2021 alleging the studio constructed Dark and Darker utilizing supply code and knowledge for an in-development title codenamed ‘Mission P3.’

Nexon claimed the information was deliberately leaked by a former worker referred to as Ju-Hyun Choi who went on to set up Ironmace, and accused the studio of copyright infringement and trade secret infringement.

Now, in accordance to paperwork translated by ChosunBiz, the Seoul Central District Courtroom (Division 63) dominated that Dark and Darker did not infringe of Nexon’s copyright for Mission P3 dated June 30, 2021.

Ironmace, nonetheless, was discovered to have dedicated trade secret infringement and has been ordered to pay 8.5 billion gained ($5.87 million) in damages to Nexon.

The corporate should pay an preliminary 1 billion gained to Nexon in March 2025 earlier than handing over the rest in the summertime.

The ruling ends a protracted authorized dispute that had begun to escalate in recent times. In 2023, forward of its Early Entry launch, Dark and Darker was was delisted after Nexon issued a cease-and-desist demand, which Ironmace countered by calling on gamers to torrent the delisted sport’s public take a look at builds till it was relisted as soon as extra.

Months later, Ironmace discovered a brand new writer in Chaf Video games. The sport returned to Steam in June 2024, the place it at the moment has “largely constructive” opinions.

This squabble additionally performed out in United States. In August 2023, Nexon filed a separate copyright declare within the U.S. that was in the end dismissed by a Seattle courtroom after Choose Tana Lin decided it might be higher suited for the South Korean courtroom system.