Square Enix has filed a lawsuit against unknown Italian individuals who infiltrated an invite-only preview of Deus Ex: Human Revolution, then downloaded the game and distributed it online.
ZoomAccording to the complaint (via Patent Arcade), Square Enix held a limited preview of the game for select press who could access the title through a secret, protected internet portal.
Unnamed individuals logged into the restricted internet portal to view the game using an Italian journalist's access details, but Square's complaint said they did so without the permission or knowledge of the previewer, and came from an IP address not associated with his publication, GMC.
The preview build of the game - believed to be the first 10-12 hours - was then copied and distributed on peer-to-peer file sharing sites.
Square Enix is claiming direct, contributory, and vicarious copyright infringement. It cites damages in excess of $5000, and is seeking a permanent injunction of copying and republishing against defendants, as well as actual and statutory damages, attorney's fees and costs.
If you're not worried about spoilers, check out Xbox World 360 magazine's comprehensive preview of Deus Ex: Human Revolution's first ten hours, or watch 12 minutes of footage here.
