May 03, 2024

MOONTON and Riot Games reach resolution after lengthy copyright disagreement

MOONTON and Riot Games reach resolution after lengthy copyright disagreement
MOONTON and Riot Games end their long dispute as both parties agreed to a settlement. | Photo (c) Riot Games & Moonton Games

Just to clarify, this is NOT an April Fools joke.

Riot Games has formally concluded its extensive legal dispute with MOONTON Games regarding intellectual property matters linked to Mobile Legends: Bang Bang.

"MOONTON Games and Riot Games have reached a global settlement on their intellectual property disputes. After several rounds of communication, the two parties officially signed a settlement agreement recently, and Riot Games decided to formally withdraw the related lawsuits," MOONTON Games announced in a release sent to the media.

Riot Games, an American video game developer and publisher established in 2006, is renowned for its multiplayer online battle arena League of Legends and has expanded its offerings to include Wild Rift, Legends of Runeterra, and Valorant.

MOONTON Games, a Chinese video game developer and publisher founded in 2014, is best known for its mobile gaming titles, particularly its flagship multiplayer online battle arena, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, which was launched in 2016.

The two gaming giants have been locked in disputes since 2017 when Riot Games initially sued MOONTON, alleging the replication of in-game elements from their popular game, League of Legends.

The case, however, was dismissed, with the court ruling that it fell under the jurisdiction of a Chinese court.

Back in 2022, Riot Games reignited legal proceedings against MOONTON, claiming copyright infringement over certain content in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang that resembled elements from both League of Legends and its mobile version, League of Legends: Wild Rift.

The US court dismissed the case, suggesting that it should be resolved in a different jurisdiction.

Two years later, both parties reached a global settlement, leading to Riot Games withdrawing all related lawsuits.

Although the details of the settlement are undisclosed, Riot Games' withdrawal of lawsuits indicates a mutual agreement between the two entities.