Genshin Impact leaks may look dramatically different soon, as a Los Angeles law firm filed a DMCA subpoena application in a Californian district court on behalf of Cognosphere, the global publishing entity behind the popular gacha game. The subpoena essentially requests Discord to provide information on the infringers under the DMCA, which, in this case, is popular Genshin Impact leak Discord Wangsheng Funeral Parlor, which is run by Ubatcha, perhaps the most visible and reliable leaker in the game's short history.
As reported by TorrentFreak, lawyers representing Cognosphere are now seeking the identity of Ubatcha. The court filing states that a takedown notice was sent to Discord on November 28 for one specific item, the "New 'Moss' Seelie showcase" that was part of a wave of Genshin Impact Version 3.0 leaks. Because the notice was sent, lawyers representing Cognosphere were then able to file for a DMCA subpoena, which will provide them with the identity of Ubatcha - provided the leaker's personal details are available through Discord's systems.
Genshin Impact Leaks Are Dangerous Legal Territory
What happens next depends on how the legal proceedings play out. Discord is likely to comply with the subpoena, which means Ubatcha's information will be passed along to Cognosphere. The information being requested for disclosure includes "name(s), address(es), telephone number(s), and email address(es)," so it's also likely that lawyers will have more than enough information to pursue Ubatcha's real identity. Genshin Impact leaks have been a hot button topic for the game for years, but the leak of reportedly up to nine future months of content just a few months ago seems to have been the catalyst for more dogged pursuit of leakers.
Ubatcha is likely going to stop being a source for Genshin Impact leaks - once their identity is known, they can then be subjected to legal ramifications for breaching the terms of the Genshin Impact closed beta testing periods that these leaks most often stem from. The long term ramifications for the legal action could be much more dramatic, however. If leakers can't protect their identity and Cognosphere is intent on clamping down on data escaping testing periods, there's a chance the "previews" that users have been able to generate for upcoming Genshin Impact Versions will become a rarity, or stop altogether.
If nothing else, it's an interesting topic for debate. It's easy to see why Cognosphere wants to protect its assets, but there's also an argument that Genshin Impact leaks do a lot for the game, generating excitement for upcoming content and allowing users to pre-plan what they'll acquire while farming to make sure they can immediately level up a new character. While unlikely, there's a chance there might actually be a dip in interest or revenue without leaks, as some players might find character ascension requirements and artifact farming too much of a tall task to justify Wishing for the newest 5-Star Genshin Impact character addition. For now, there's no outcome set in stone, but those interested in Genshin Impact leaks and the future of the game's content rollouts will want to pay close attention to how these proceedings play out.