`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 1 of 19
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Katherine M. Dugdale, Bar No. 168014
`KDugdale@perkinscoie.com
`PERKINS COIE LLP
`1888 Century Park E., Suite 1700
`Los Angeles, CA 90067-1721
`Telephone: 310.788.9900
`Facsimile: 310.788.3399
`
`Lauren Watts Staniar, pro hac vice forthcoming
`LStaniar@perkinscoie.com
`Jacob Dini, pro hac vice forthcoming
`JDini@perkinscoie.com
`PERKINS COIE LLP
`1201 Third Avenue, Suite 4900
`Seattle, WA 98101-3099
`Telephone: 206.359.8000
`Facsimile: 206.359.9000
`Attorneys for Plaintiff
`Twitch Interactive, Inc.
`
`
`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
`SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION
`
`TWITCH INTERACTIVE, INC., a
`Delaware corporation,
`Plaintiff,
`
`v.
`CRUZZCONTROL, an individual;
`CREATINEOVERDOSE, an individual,
`Defendants.
`
`Case No. 3:21-cv-07006
`COMPLAINT FOR:
`
`(1) BREACH OF CONTRACT
`(2) FRAUD IN THE INDUCEMENT
`(3) UNFAIR COMPETITION (CAL. BUS. &
`PROF. CODE § 17200)
`
`DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL
`
`
`
`I.
`
`INTRODUCTION
`
`1.
`
`Twitch Interactive, Inc. (“Twitch”) is one of the world’s leading services for
`
`content creators to stream content as part of a social, interactive community. Each month,
`
`millions of people come together to create their own entertainment: live, never-to-be repeated
`
`experiences created by the magical interactions of the many. In 2020, users watched over 1
`
`
`
`
`
`153823186.1
`
`-1-
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 2 of 19
`
`
`
`trillion minutes of content, and Twitch.tv had 30 million average daily visitors. Twitch’s success
`
`is due in part to the measures it has taken to create a safe and accessible community for its
`
`millions of users.
`
`2.
`
`The safety of Twitch’s community is its top priority. For this reason, Twitch
`
`forbids harassment and threats on the Twitch Services. Its Terms of Service prohibit users from
`
`creating, uploading, transmitting, or streaming any content that is unlawful, defamatory, obscene,
`
`pornographic, harassing, threatening, abusive, or otherwise objectionable. As expressed in its
`
`Community Guidelines (“Guidelines”), Twitch does not tolerate hateful conduct and harassment.
`
`Twitch specifically bans “discrimination, denigration, harassment, or violence based on the
`
`following protected characteristics: race, ethnicity, color, caste, national origin, immigration
`
`status, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, serious medical condition, and
`
`veteran status.” Twitch has “zero tolerance for hateful conduct . . . .”
`
`3.
`
`Beginning in or about August 2021, Defendants began flooding Twitch streamers
`
`with hateful conduct. This type of targeted attack is known colloquially as a “hate raid.” These
`
`hate raids often target streamers from marginalized groups. Defendants attack these streamers by
`
`flooding their chats with bot-powered Twitch accounts that spew racist, sexist, and homophobic
`
`language and content.
`
`4.
`
`Twitch took swift action against Defendants by suspending and eventually
`
`permanently banning Defendants’ known Twitch accounts. Defendants were undeterred. They
`
`evaded Twitch’s bans by creating new, alternate Twitch accounts, and continually altering their
`
`self-described “hate raid code” to avoid detection and suspension by Twitch.
`
`5.
`
`Defendants’ actions seriously harmed and will continue to harm the Twitch
`
`community. Streamers who were the victims of hate-raids experienced mental health issues, and
`
`
`
`
`
`153823186.1
`
`-2-
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 3 of 19
`
`
`
`some have reported cutting back on streaming to avoid persistent harassment.1 Members of the
`
`community have called on Twitch to prevent the raids.
`
`6.
`
`Twitch expended significant resources investigating and banning Defendants, as
`
`well as implementing updated security measures intended to halt and prevent Defendants’
`
`unlawful actions.
`
`7.
`
`Despite these efforts, Defendants’ actions are ongoing—they continue to promote
`
`and engage in hate raids. If they are not stopped, Defendants will continue to harass and disrupt
`
`the Twitch community with hate raids.
`
`8.
`
`Twitch brings this action to end Defendants’ unlawful, fraudulent and highly
`
`offensive activities, enforce its contracts with Defendants, and hold Defendants accountable.
`
`II.
`
`JURISDICTION
`
`9.
`
`This Court has subject matter jurisdiction over this action pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
`
`§ 1332(a), as there is complete diversity of citizenship between Twitch and Defendants and the
`
`amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.
`
`10.
`
`Venue is proper in this district under 28 U.S.C. § 1391 because a substantial part
`
`of the events or omissions giving rise to the claims occurred in this district. Defendants have
`
`repeatedly, knowingly, and intentionally accessed Twitch servers located in this district to
`
`undertake their unlawful activities. While accessing Twitch servers, Defendants engaged in
`
`systematic and continuous contacts with this district and targeted their wrongful acts at Twitch,
`
`which is headquartered in this district.
`
`
`1 https://www.washingtonpost.com/video-games/2021/08/25/twitch-hate-raids-streamers-
`discord-cybersecurity/.
`-3-
`
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`153823186.1
`
`
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 4 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`III.
`
`INTRADISTRICT ASSIGNMENT
`
`11.
`
`Assignment to the San Francisco Division or Oakland Division is proper under
`
`Local Civil Rule 3-2(d) because Twitch is located in San Francisco County, and the events
`
`described herein giving rise to this lawsuit took place primarily in San Francisco County.
`
`IV.
`
`THE PARTIES
`
`12.
`
`Twitch is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in San
`
`Francisco. Twitch operates the “Twitch Services,” which are the website available at
`
`http://www.twitch.tv, and its network of websites, software applications, and any other products
`
`or services offered by Twitch.
`
`13.
`
`On information and belief, the Twitch user CruzzControl is an individual residing
`
`in Baarto, Netherlands. CruzzControl is responsible in whole or in part for the wrongful conduct
`
`alleged herein. CruzzControl operated and continues to operate accounts on the Twitch Services
`
`under aliases, including but not limited to CruzzControl, Zenobias_goat, bamiblok, lexfannr1 and
`
`nirger. CruzzControl’s acts described in this Complaint were intentionally directed toward
`
`Twitch within this judicial district, subjecting CruzzControl to personal jurisdiction. Twitch will
`
`amend this Complaint if and when it uncovers CruzzControl’s legal name.
`
`14.
`
`On information and belief, the Twitch user CreatineOverdose is an individual
`
`residing in Vienna, Austria. CreatineOverdose is responsible in whole or in part for the wrongful
`
`conduct alleged herein. CreatineOverdose operated and continues to operate accounts on the
`
`Twitch Services under various aliases, including but not limited to CreatineOverdose,
`
`CreatineBanEvades, CreatineReturns, and CreatineReported. CreatineOverdose’s acts described
`
`in this Complaint were intentionally directed toward Twitch within this judicial district,
`
`subjecting him to personal jurisdiction. Twitch will amend this Complaint if and when it
`
`uncovers CreatineOverdose’s legal name.
`
`
`
`
`
`153823186.1
`
`-4-
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 5 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`15.
`
`Upon information and belief, each of the defendants was, at all times mentioned in
`
`this Complaint, acting as the agent, employee, or alter ego of every other defendant, and in doing
`
`the things mentioned herein, was acting within the course and scope of such agency, employment,
`
`or other relationship and with full knowledge and consent of each of the other defendants.
`
`A.
`
`Twitch
`
`V.
`
`FACTS
`
`16.
`
`Twitch is a real-time streaming video service where community members gather to
`
`watch, play, and chat about shared interests—predominantly video games, sports, and creative
`
`arts. Twitch was founded in 2011 and has been an Amazon subsidiary since 2014.
`
`17.
`
`On Twitch, streamers (those Twitch users who share live content on the service)
`
`pursue their interests to engage and entertain their viewers. More than 7,000,000 unique
`
`streamers per month stream via Twitch’s service.
`
`18.
`
`Streamers work extensively to create and foster authentic, passionate, and loyal
`
`communities on Twitch. They do this in part by building an identity on Twitch outside of their
`
`work as a content creator.
`
`19.
`
`Twitch values the diversity of its community. Twitch hosts millions of diverse
`
`individuals and has created programs to support creators of color and other individuals from
`
`marginalized groups. For example, in May 2021 Twitch celebrated Asian & Pacific Islander
`
`Month to celebrate Asian & Pacific Islander creators from around the globe, spotlighting over 40
`
`featured Asian & Pacific Islander creators and communities on Twitch and beyond.
`
`20.
`
`Twitch viewers and streamers use a chat function to communicate on Twitch.
`
`Twitch chat is one of the Twitch Service’s most popular features, and it is often integral in
`
`building a community around a Twitch channel or streamer.
`
`
`
`
`
`153823186.1
`
`-5-
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 6 of 19
`
`
`
`21.
`
`A streamer’s “Stream Chat” panel is open any time that person is streaming on
`
`Twitch. Community members post comments in the panel to encourage the streamer, provide
`
`support, and send Twitch-specific emojis. Streamers can respond to messages in the chat.
`
`22.
`
`Streamers can set rules for their chats, and streamers frequently admonish
`
`participants not to use racist or offensive language.
`
`23.
`
`Users who only watch streams may, but are not required to, create an account on
`
`Twitch. Streamers, however, must create an account. And users who participate in Twitch’s chat
`
`function are also required to create an account.
`
`24.
`
`Twitch provides streamers and developers with a variety of tools to bring
`
`streamers, viewers, and developers together on the Twitch service in new, engaging ways. One
`
`such tool is the “Chatbot,” in which developers can create programs that allow streamers to
`
`interact programmatically with their Twitch chat feed using preset standards. For example, when
`
`a viewer types !dice into a streamers’ chat, a simple chatbot created by a developer and used by
`
`the streamer may automatically respond by generating a number between 1-6. Streamers can use
`
`chatbots for a variety of basic moderation tasks, including for example, automatically deleting
`
`messages in chats that contain links, solicit song requests from viewers, and organize in-chat
`
`games.
`
`25.
`
`But bots can also be used for nefarious, unauthorized purposes, despite Twitch’s
`
`restrictions on such uses. For example, a developer may create bot software designed to
`
`automatically spam a streamer’s channel with thousands of messages in a short period of time,
`
`drowning out authentic conversation on the streamer’s channel, or worse, promoting hateful or
`
`offensive content.
`
`26.
`
`Twitch forbids developers from “design[ing] bots that engage in offensive or
`
`deceptive practices (e.g., generate hate speech [or] send spam . . . .).” And Twitch takes this
`-6-
`
`
`
`
`
`153823186.1
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 7 of 19
`
`
`
`prohibition seriously, employing sophisticated methods to identify and stop unauthorized bot
`
`activity.
`
`B.
`
`Twitch’s Terms of Service and Community Guidelines
`
`27.
`
`In order to create an account or otherwise use or access the Twitch Services or
`
`utilize the Twitch chat, a prospective user must agree to be bound by, among other things,
`
`Twitch’s Terms of Service, Community Guidelines, and Twitch Developer Services Agreement
`
`(collectively, the “Terms”). Specifically, the Terms state: “The Terms of Service apply whether
`
`you are a user that registers an account with the Twitch Services or an unregistered user. You
`
`agree that by clicking ‘Sign Up’ or otherwise registering, downloading, accessing or using the
`
`Twitch Services, you are entering into a legally binding agreement between you and Twitch
`
`regarding your use of the Twitch Services. You acknowledge that you have read, understood, and
`
`agree to be bound by these Terms of Service.”
`
`28.
`
`Twitch issues its users a limited, non-sublicensable license to access or use the
`
`Twitch Services for personal or internal business use only, provided that the user agrees to the
`
`Terms. “Any use of the Twitch Services or the Materials except as specifically authorized in
`
`these Terms of Service, without the prior written permission of Twitch, is strictly prohibited and
`
`may violate intellectual property rights or other laws.”
`
`29.
`
`The Terms explain that previously banned users may not access the Twitch
`
`Services: “The Twitch Services are also not available to any users previously removed from the
`
`Twitch Services by Twitch or to any persons barred from receiving them under the laws of the
`
`United States (such as its export and re-export restrictions and regulations) or applicable laws in
`
`any other jurisdiction.”
`
`
`
`
`
`153823186.1
`
`-7-
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 8 of 19
`
`
`
`30.
`
`The Terms expressly prohibit anyone who accesses or uses the Twitch Services
`
`from harassing others on Twitch or posting racist, homophobic, violent, or otherwise harmful
`
`content. Specifically, the Terms prohibit users from:
`
`a. creating, uploading, transmitting, or distributing “any content that is inaccurate,
`
`unlawful, infringing, defamatory, obscene, pornographic, invasive of privacy or
`
`publicity rights, harassing, threatening, abusive, inflammatory, or otherwise
`
`objectionable”;
`
`b. “defam[ing], harass[ing], abus[ing], threaten[ing], or defraud[ing] users of the
`
`Twitch Services”;
`
`c. interfering with or damaging “operation of the Twitch Services or any user’s
`
`enjoyment of them, by any means, including uploading or otherwise disseminating
`
`viruses, adware, spyware, worms, or other malicious code”;
`
`d. manipulating “identifiers in order to disguise the origin of any User Content
`
`transmitted through the Twitch Services”;
`
`e. “attempt[ing] to circumvent any content filtering techniques [Twitch] employ[s],
`
`or attempt to access any service or area of the Twitch Services that you are not
`
`authorized to access”;
`
`f. using “the Twitch Services for any illegal purpose, or in violation of any local,
`
`state, national, or international law or regulation, including, without limitation,
`
`laws governing intellectual property and other proprietary rights, data protection
`
`and privacy”; or
`
`g. “design[ing] bots that engage in offensive or deceptive practices (e.g., generate
`
`hate speech, send spam, offer false follows, etc.).”
`
`
`
`
`
`153823186.1
`
`-8-
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 9 of 19
`
`
`
`31.
`
`The Guidelines, as part of the Terms, govern activity on Twitch with the goal of
`
`“provid[ing] the best shared social video experience created by our growing community where
`
`creators and communities can interact safely.”
`
`32.
`
`“To achieve this goal, [Twitch] asks that all users participate in such a way that
`
`promotes a friendly, positive experience for” the Twitch global community.”
`
`33.
`
`The Guidelines state that Twitch does not tolerate racist, homophobic, xenophobic,
`
`or otherwise harassing content such as that at issue here.
`
`34.
`
`The Guidelines provide that “[h]ateful conduct and harassment are not allowed on
`
`Twitch. Hateful content is any content or activity that promotes or encourages discrimination,
`
`denigration, harassment, or violence based on the following protected characteristics: race,
`
`ethnicity, color, caste, national origin, immigration status, religion, sex, gender, gender identity,
`
`sexual orientation, disability, serious medical condition, and veteran status.”
`
`35.
`
`Under the Guidelines, “Twitch has zero tolerance for hateful conduct, meaning”
`
`Twitch acts “on every valid reported instance of hateful conduct.” Twitch “affords every user
`
`equal protections under this policy, regardless of their particular characteristics.”
`
`36.
`
`The Guidelines state that “hostile raids” are a form of harassment, and expressly
`
`bans those raids on Twitch: “Harassment has many manifestations, including stalking, personal
`
`attacks, promotion of physical harm, hostile raids, and malicious false report brigading.”
`
`37.
`
`Twitch explains in the Guidelines that it “will take action on all instances of
`
`hateful conduct and harassment, with an increasing severity of enforcement when the behavior is
`
`targeted, personal, graphic, or repeated/prolonged, incites further abuse, or involves threats of
`
`violence or coercion. The most egregious violations may result in an indefinite suspension on the
`
`first offense.”
`
`
`
`
`
`153823186.1
`
`-9-
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 10 of 19
`
`
`
`38.
`
`The Guidelines make clear that Twitch will punish offensive conduct: “To protect
`
`the integrity of our community, as the provider of the service, we at Twitch reserve the right to
`
`suspend any account at any time for any conduct that we determine to be inappropriate or
`
`harmful. Such actions may include: removal of content, a strike on the account, and/or
`
`suspension of account(s).”
`
`39.
`
`Twitch’s efforts do not end with the posting of its Terms. Twitch employs a Trust
`
`and Safety team that operates around the clock and around the globe to investigate and act in
`
`connection with violations of the Terms.
`
`40.
`
`Twitch also invests in technologies and processes that address potential risks to
`
`user safety, with the aim to create the best possible experience for streamers and their audiences.
`
`For example, Twitch has implemented a banned word list. And streamers can automatically filter
`
`out unwanted messages in their chat using AutoMod, a Twitch proprietary tool. Twitch also
`
`offers tools that streamers can deploy to block or ban users from their audience and report them to
`
`Twitch’s safety operations team.
`
`41.
`
`Twitch continuously works to improve its ability to detect and act upon violations
`
`of the Terms and is continuing to invest in technologies to support this effort.
`
`C.
`
`Defendants’ Unlawful Activity
`
`42.
`
`Beginning in or about August 2021, Defendants began coordinating attacks on
`
`Twitch’s streamers by raiding their channels and spamming those communities with hate
`
`(referred to hereafter as “hate raids”). These hate raids were, in some cases, directed to streamers
`
`who identified themselves as racial minorities and/or members of the LGBTQ+ community.
`
`43.
`
`Defendants conduct the hate-raids by flooding a streamer’s chat with hate-filled
`
`and obscene text, including racial slurs, personally identifying information, and malicious links
`
`(such as links to gore videos intended to shock/offend) over a short period of time. Defendants
`-10-
`
`
`
`
`
`153823186.1
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 11 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`are able to do this through the use of fraudulently created “bot” accounts, which are created for
`
`the sole purposes of launching large scale, automated attacks against Twitch’s services and
`
`community. Defendants’ bots permit them to spew hateful content at a robotic pace, often
`
`sending dozens of messages per minute that often outpace the targeted streamer’s ability to
`
`moderate chat. Defendants claim that they can generate thousands of bots in minutes for this
`
`purpose.
`
`44.
`
`Defendants have deployed hate raids on Twitch in violation of the Terms. For
`
`example, from August 8-10, 2021, Defendant CruzzControl used bots to spam a Twitch channel
`
`with racial slurs and descriptions of violent acts against racial minorities and members of the
`
`LGBTQIA+ community. These Twitch usernames for these bots incorporated the term
`
`“cruzzcontrol” and “zenobia”.
`
`45.
`
`On information and belief, Defendant CruzzControl is responsible for nearly 3,000
`
`bot accounts associated with hate raids. Bots developed and deployed by CruzzControl have been
`
`linked to various hate raid events, including those targeting black and LGBTQIA+ streamers with
`
`racist, homophobic, sexist and other harassing content.
`
`46.
`
`CruzzControl has admitted to using bots to flood Twitch channels with harassing
`
`content. They have also demonstrated how the bots work so others can use similar methods to
`
`accomplish hate raids.
`
`47.
`
`Twitch has also linked CreatineOverdose directly to hate raids. For example, on
`
`August 15, 2021, Defendant CreatineOverdose used their bot software to demonstrate how it
`
`could be used to spam Twitch channels with racial slurs, graphic descriptions of violence against
`
`minorities, and claims that the hate raiders are the “K K K.” Bots used in this demonstration
`
`contain unique usernames that Twitch later detected as being used to spam similar violent hate
`
`speech in numerous other Twitch channels.
`
`
`
`
`
`153823186.1
`
`-11-
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 12 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`48.
`
`In addition to being highly offensive, the hate raids are also disruptive to the
`
`streamers’ streams and authentic engagement from the streamers’ intended viewers. For
`
`example, victims of the hate raids may be forced to limit those who can use the chat feature on
`
`their streams to only the streamers’ followers/paying subscribers, instead of the entire Twitch
`
`community, reducing the opportunity for genuine engagement between streamers and viewers
`
`that is essential to the Twitch Services.
`
`49.
`
`These attacks obstruct the chat so significantly, victimized streamers are unable to
`
`engage with their community through chat for the duration of the attack, and some even choose to
`
`avoid streaming altogether until the attack ends. The attacks have pushed some victims to stop
`
`streaming on Twitch until the hate raids end, eliminating an important source of revenue for them.
`
`50.
`
`Twitch took swift action against the accounts and users that conducted the hate
`
`raids, immediately and permanently suspending them consistent with the Terms. As part of this
`
`action, Twitch banned Defendants’ known accounts.
`
`51.
`
`However, despite Twitch’s best efforts, the hate raids continue. On information
`
`and belief, Defendants created software code to conduct hate raids via automated means. And
`
`they continue to develop their software code to avoid Twitch’s efforts at preventing Defendants’
`
`bots from accessing the Twitch Services.
`
`52.
`
`On information and belief, Defendants work in concert with others in what one
`
`Defendant, CreatineOverdose, has described as the “hate raiding community” to perform these
`
`hate raids.
`
`53.
`
`On information and belief, Defendants coordinate their activities with the “hate
`
`raiding community” through other gaming-related social media platforms, including but not
`
`limited to Discord and Steam.
`
`54.
`
`
`
`
`
`153823186.1
`
`Defendants’ actions have harmed and continue to harm Twitch and its community.
`-12-
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 13 of 19
`
`
`
`55.
`
`Streamers who Defendants targeted with hate raids were traumatized. Many
`
`streamers Tweeted their reactions to Defendants’ actions. The following are a few examples.
`
`56.
`
`To further curb Defendants’ hate-raids, Twitch updated its software to employ
`
`additional measures that better detect malicious bot software in chat messages.
`
`57.
`
`Twitch expended significant resources combatting Defendants’ attacks. Twitch
`
`spent time and money investigating Defendants, including through use of its fraud detection team.
`
`Twitch also engineered technological and other fixes in an attempt to stop Defendants’ harassing
`
`and hateful conduct. These updates include but are not limited to implementing stricter identity
`
`controls with accounts, machine learning algorithms to detect bot accounts that are used to engage
`
`in harmful chat and augmenting the banned word list. Twitch mobilized its communications staff
`
`to address the community harm flowing from the hate raids and assured its community that it was
`
`taking proactive measures to stop them. Twitch also worked with impacted streamers to educate
`
`them on moderation toolkits for their chats and solicited and responded to streamers’ and users’
`
`comments and concerns.
`
`
`
`
`
`153823186.1
`
`-13-
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 14 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`Breach of Contract
`(California Common Law)
`
`58.
`
`Twitch realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations in the preceding
`
`paragraphs as if fully set forth herein.
`
`59.
`
`60.
`
`Access to and use of the Twitch Services is governed by and subject to the Terms.
`
`At all relevant times, Twitch prominently displayed and/or provided links to the
`
`Terms. Twitch users are presented with and must affirmatively accept the Terms to register for a
`
`Twitch account. Twitch users are presented with and must affirmatively accept the Terms to use
`
`the Twitch chat function.
`
`61.
`
`The Terms provide that they apply “whether you are a user that registers an
`
`account with the Twitch Services or an unregistered user. You agree that by clicking ‘Sign Up’
`
`or otherwise registering, downloading, accessing, or using the Twitch Services, you are entering
`
`into a legally binding agreement between you and Twitch regarding your use of the Twitch
`
`Services.”
`
`62.
`
`The Guidelines are incorporated into the Terms by reference. A violation of the
`
`Guidelines is a violation of the Terms.
`
`63.
`
`The Terms are binding on Defendants. Each of the Defendants agreed to abide by
`
`the Terms by creating a Twitch account, by using Twitch chat and/or any other Twitch Services,
`
`and/or by accessing the Twitch Services.
`
`64.
`
`On information and belief, Defendants also agreed to be bound by the Twitch
`
`Developer Services Agreement (“Developer Terms”) when they accessed and used the Twitch
`
`Developer Site and/or Twitch Services to create bots.
`
`65.
`
`On information and belief, Defendants regularly accessed the Twitch Services with
`
`knowledge of the Terms and the prohibitions contained therein.
`-14-
`
`
`
`
`
`153823186.1
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 15 of 19
`
`
`
`66.
`
`The Terms are valid, enforceable contracts between Twitch and each of the
`
`Defendants.
`
`67.
`
`Defendants have willfully, continuously, and materially breached the Terms in at
`
`least the following ways:
`
`a. posting racist, homophobic, and highly offensive content in Twitch chats in
`
`violation of Section 9(i) of the Terms;
`
`b. harassing and defaming users of the Twitch Services in violation of Section 9(v) of
`
`the Terms;
`
`c. accessing the Twitch Services with fake accounts after they were banned in
`
`violation of Sections 2 and 9(xv) of the Terms;
`
`d. manipulating their identifying information (including names and IP addresses) to
`
`“disguise the origin of any User Content transmitted through the Twitch Services”
`
`in violation of Section 9(xii);
`
`e. impairing, interfering with, disrupting, negatively affecting, and/or inhibiting other
`
`users’ enjoyment of the Twitch Services by posting obscene, violent, and harassing
`
`content in violation of Section 9(ix) of the Terms; and/or
`
`f. and accessing the Twitch Services with prohibited bots in violation of Section
`
`9(xi) of the Terms.
`
`68.
`
`Defendants have willfully, continuously, and materially breached the Guidelines,
`
`and therefore the Terms by, among other things, engaging in hateful conduct and harassment on
`
`Twitch, which the Guidelines expressly prohibit.
`
`69.
`
`Defendants have willfully, continuously and materially breached the Guidelines,
`
`and therefore the Terms by, among other things, engaging in “hostile raids” as a form of
`
`harassment, which the Guidelines expressly prohibit.
`-15-
`
`
`
`
`
`153823186.1
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`
`
`
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 16 of 19
`
`
`
`70.
`
`On information and belief, Defendants have willfully, continuously and materially
`
`breached the Developer Terms by “design[ing] bots that engage in offensive or deceptive
`
`practices (e.g., generate hate speech, send spam, offer false follows, etc.).”
`
`71.
`
`Twitch has dutifully performed its obligations pursuant to the Terms and the
`
`Developer Terms.
`
`72.
`
`As a direct and proximate result of Defendants’ material breaches of the Terms
`
`and Developer Terms, Twitch has been and will continue to be harmed, thereby entitling it to
`
`injunctive relief, compensatory damages, attorneys’ fees, costs, and/or other equitable relief
`
`against Defendants. Twitch is entitled to special damages in the amount of lost profits and other
`
`reasonably foreseeable harms proximately caused by Defendants’ breach.
`
`SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF
`Fraud in the Inducement
`(California Common Law)
`
`73.
`
`Twitch realleges and incorporates by reference the allegations in the preceding
`
`paragraphs as if fully set forth herein.
`
`74.
`
`Beginning in or about August 2021, Defendants began registering Twitch accounts
`
`to conduct hate raids and otherwise harass Twitch streamers.
`
`75.
`
`In registering their Twitch accounts, Defendants agreed to be bound by the Terms.
`
`In particular, they represented and agreed not to conduct “hostile raids”; post hateful and
`
`harassing content on Twitch; harass or defame other Twitch users; or deploy bots in a manner not
`
`permitted by the Terms. Twitch’s reliance was reasonable and was otherwise justified.
`
`76.
`
`Defendants had no intention of abiding by the Terms and made fraudulent
`
`representations to the contrary to Twitch, knowing them to be false and with the intent of
`
`defrauding Twitch.
`
`
`
`
`
`153823186.1
`
`-16-
`
`
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`
`Case 3:21-cv-07006 Document 1 Filed 09/09/21 Page 17 of 19
`
`
`
`1
`2
`3
`4
`5
`6
`7
`8
`9
`10
`11
`12
`13
`14
`15
`16
`17
`18
`19
`20
`21
`22
`23
`24
`25
`26
`27
`28
`
`77.
`
`Contrary to their express representations to Twitch, Defendants created Twitch
`
`accounts for the purpose of posting harassing content on Twitch, performing hate raids, and
`
`harassing other Twitch users.
`
`78.
`
`Based upon Defendants’ intentional misrepresentations, Twitch was induced to
`
`allow them to register accounts using Twitch’s Services. Had Twitch known of Defendants’ true
`
`intentions, Twitch would not have allowed them to register accounts and access the Twitch
`
`Services. Once Twitch became aware of Defendants’ harassing and hateful actions, Twitch
`
`immediately