Skibidi Toilet DMCA Controversy: Legitimacy in Limbo

Garry Newman, the creator of Garry's Mod, reportedly received a DMCA takedown notice concerning unauthorized Skibidi Toilet content within the game. The sender's identity remains uncertain, despite initial reports linking it to Invisible Narratives, the studio behind Skibidi Toilet's film and television projects. A Discord profile believed to belong to the Skibidi Toilet creator has since denied sending the notice, as reported by Dexerto.

The DMCA Dispute and its Ironic Twist

The DMCA notice demands the removal of Garry's Mod games featuring Skibidi Toilet characters, citing a lack of licensing. This is particularly ironic, considering the Skibidi Toilet series itself originated using assets from Garry's Mod, as showcased by Alexey Gerasimov's YouTube channel, DaFuq!?Boom!. This channel's animations propelled Skibidi Toilet into viral meme status, leading to merchandise and planned film/TV adaptations.

Counterarguments and the Role of Valve

Newman highlighted the situation on the s&box Discord server, expressing disbelief at the notice. Invisible Narratives' claim asserts copyright ownership of characters like Titan Cameraman, Titan Speakerman, Titan TV Man, and Skibidi Toilet. They pointed to DaFuq!?Boom! as the source of these characters.

The irony is further emphasized by Garry's Mod's own origins. Built using assets from Valve's Half-Life 2, it received Valve's approval for its standalone release. Therefore, Valve, as the original copyright holder, arguably has a stronger claim against unauthorized use of their assets by DaFuq!?Boom! than Invisible Narratives does.

Following the public discussion, DaFuq!?Boom! denied involvement in sending the DMCA, adding to the confusion. The notice itself names Invisible Narratives, LLC as the copyright holder, citing 2023 copyright registration for "Titan Cameraman and 3 Other Unpublished Works."

Previous Copyright Disputes by DaFuq!?Boom!

The situation is further complicated by DaFuq!?Boom!'s past copyright disputes. Last September, the creator issued multiple copyright strikes against GameToons, a similar YouTube channel. While a settlement was eventually reached, the initial actions highlight a pattern of aggressive copyright enforcement.

The current situation surrounding the DMCA notice to Garry's Mod remains unresolved, with the sender's identity and the validity of the claims still under scrutiny. The ongoing debate underscores the complex legal landscape surrounding user-generated content and the repurposing of assets within online communities.