Denuvo Sought User Data in Anti-Tamper Lawsuit
The firm moved to subpoena platform records to unmask a game cracker accused of bypassing security on 26 titles.
Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Cybersecurity
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Denuvo has petitioned a California federal court to force Discord, Valve, and Reddit to release identification data for the anonymous game cracker known as voices38. The software firm seeks to unmask the individual behind the bypass of its Anti-Tamper protections on 26 games.
Why it matters
The lawsuit attempts to bridge the gap between anonymous online personas and real-world legal accountability in software piracy cases. Denuvo currently lacks the identity of the defendant and requires these platform records to proceed with its litigation.
Denuvo identified cryptocurrency transactions involving Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana via the exchange FixedFloat linked to the defendant. The company is now seeking access to seven Steam profiles, along with Reddit post history and subreddit memberships, to establish the identity of voices38.
The players
Denuvo
A software protection company specializing in Anti-Tamper technology for video games.
voices38
An anonymous game cracker currently targeted in a DMCA anti-circumvention lawsuit.
Haywood S. Gilliam Jr.
A U.S. District Court judge overseeing the motion for subpoenas in California.
Valve
The operator of the Steam platform, which hosts digital storefronts for PC games.
A social media platform where the cracker's account activity is being targeted by investigators.
The details
Denuvo filed an ex parte motion—a legal request made by one party without the presence of the opposing side—to serve subpoenas to third-party platforms for account details, IP addresses, and billing information. The company alleges the actor bypassed Anti-Tamper, a digital security technology designed to prevent unauthorized modification or copying of software, on 26 specific titles. While Valve and Reddit previously denied data requests citing privacy policies, the current court petition aims to override these protections.
Timeline
September 2026: Denuvo filed a DMCA lawsuit against voices38.
Late September 2026: The cracking group DenuvOwO disbanded.
October 6, 2026: Details of the motion for subpoenas were published.
The Tech Race
This move represents a tactical shift in how software companies combat digital piracy by forcing identification through third-party platform subpoenas. It follows a pattern of heightened legal scrutiny against anonymous actors after the dissolution of the cracking group DenuvOwO.
The outcome of this case will establish whether major platforms must surrender private user records in response to DMCA-related discovery motions. Steam users and Reddit participants may face greater scrutiny if the court establishes a precedent for platform data disclosure to private litigants.
The takeaway
This case highlights the ongoing struggle between digital platform privacy protections and the legal demand for attribution in software security breaches. Watch for Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr.'s decision on the motion as it will define the threshold for accessing user data in copyright litigation.
Further reading
For broader trends in digital rights and defense, visit /tech/cybersecurity/.
More information
View the details in the Denuvo ex parte motion.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Torrentfreak.
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