Skibidi DMCA vs. GMOD: Legality in Question

A DMCA takedown notice, allegedly targeting "unauthorized Skibidi Toilet Garry's Mod games," has been issued to Garry Newman, the creator of Garry's Mod. The situation is shrouded in uncertainty regarding the true sender.

The DMCA Dispute

On July 30th, a copyright claim surfaced, demanding the removal of Skibidi Toilet-related content from Garry's Mod. The sender initially appeared linked to Invisible Narratives, the studio behind Skibidi Toilet's film and TV projects. However, this claim has been refuted. A Discord profile seemingly belonging to the Skibidi Toilet creator denied sending the notice, as reported by Dexerto.

The irony is palpable. The Skibidi Toilet YouTube series, created by Alexey Gerasimov (DaFuq!?Boom!), utilizes assets from Garry's Mod, a game itself built using Valve's Half-Life 2 assets. The series' immense popularity led to merchandise and planned film/TV adaptations.

Counterarguments and Claims

Newman highlighted the situation on the s&box Discord server, expressing disbelief at the claim. Invisible Narratives' notice asserts copyright ownership over characters like Titan Cameraman, Titan Speakerman, Titan TV Man, and Skibidi Toilet, citing DaFuq!?Boom! as the original source.

This claim is particularly ironic considering the series' origins within Garry's Mod. While Garry's Mod uses Half-Life 2 assets, Valve has authorized its standalone release. Valve, as the original owner of Half-Life 2, arguably has a stronger claim against unauthorized asset use than Invisible Narratives.

Following Newman's public statement, DaFuq!?Boom! denied involvement, expressing confusion and seeking contact with Newman. The DMCA notice was reportedly sent "on behalf of copyright holder: Invisible Narratives, LLC," claiming copyright on the characters in 2023.

The situation remains unclear. The authenticity of DaFuq!?Boom!'s denial is yet to be confirmed, but this isn't the first time the Skibidi Toilet creator has faced copyright scrutiny.

Previous Copyright Disputes

DaFuq!?Boom! previously issued copyright strikes against other YouTube channels, including GameToons, leading to a tense standoff before an eventual resolution. The details of the agreement remain undisclosed.

The legitimacy of the DMCA against Garry's Mod remains uncertain, highlighting the complexities of copyright in the digital age, especially concerning derivative works and the blurring lines between original content and user-generated creations.