One of essentially the most high-profile Mortal Kombat 1 modders on YouTube has pulled their content material offline after alleging Warner Bros. “threatened to destroy” his channel.
Toasted tweeted to allege Warner Bros. had issued an mental property infringement notification that states the Mortal Kombat mods showcased in his movies “infringe” on the corporate’s IP rights. Toasted claimed that Warner Bros., which owns the Mortal Kombat IP in addition to its developer, NetherRealm, requested he delete all Mortal Kombat 1 movies from his channel “or else they’ll concern copyright strikes and primarily delete my channel in its entirety.”
These are all of the movies I’ve had to non-public, I am sorry to everybody who loved them however Warner Bros is not actually giving me a alternative pic.twitter.com/AB6fop5ot3
— Toasted (@ToastedShoes) May 23, 2024
IGN has verified the notification, despatched by AI-powered model safety firm Tracer. It consists of the takedown request, which additionally extends to Toasted’s Patreon, the place the mods in query have been made accessible to obtain to subscribers. IGN has confirmed Toasted has additionally pulled the Mortal Kombat 1 mods down from his Patreon. IGN has requested Warner Bros. for remark.
I voiced Rick, Morty, and Meeseeks in one other @ToastedShoes mod 🙂 pic.twitter.com/IoI5GgBLhT
— Sean Kelly (@RealMortysays) (*1*)
Toasted’s Mortal Kombat 1 mod movies have showcased NetherRealm’s combating recreation with numerous characters from the likes of Disney, Marvel, Pixar, Warner Bros., and Dreamworks properties. In January 2024, IGN reported on how Toasted had changed the likes of Sub-Zero, Scorpion, and Liu Kang with Woody from Toy Story, Mr. Unbelievable from The Incredibles, and even Carl Fredricksen from Up for numerous Mortal Kombat 1 mod movies. Different mod movies confirmed Rick & Morty and Household Man in gory Mortal Kombat 1 battles.
I voiced Morty, Rick, and Meeseeks in a ToastedShoes mod 🙂 pic.twitter.com/pftgehu7mS
— Sean Kelly (@RealMortysays) December 25, 2023
Toasted mentioned clips of his mods have multiple billion views throughout all platforms, and highlighted that NetherRealm improvement chief Ed Boon has shared clips of mods himself on social media.
“For over six months Warner Bros. have had zero points with individuals modding the sport and @noobde himself has shared numerous mod movies and clips praising them,” Toasted mentioned.
“The clips of my mods have over one billion views throughout all platforms which have allowed me to convey consideration to the sport in addition to to proceed supporting the staff of builders I work with. My staff of modders work with me on each an element time and full time foundation and the income from these movies pays their wages.”
Yeah it’s fairly whack. There’s clips of the mods with 50+ million views on the web. If something it will make individuals need to play the sport extra wouldn’t it not? I’ve had many individuals reply saying they’re getting the sport PURELY for the mods pic.twitter.com/532r85YUyg
— Toasted (@ToastedShoes) May 23, 2024
Toasted additionally claimed he’s unable to reply to the e-mail despatched by Warner Bros., which implies he has no means of asking follow-up questions. “I additionally appear to be the one content material creator that I do know of that has been despatched a stop and desist from Warner Bros.,” he added.
Toasted mentioned the stop and desist has “compelled” him to take away all of the Mortal Kombat 1 mod movies from his channel. “This is not what I wished to do however I really feel I’ve no different choice,” he mentioned.
Warner Bros.’ stop and desist comes only a few days earlier than the corporate’s franchise-combining brawler MultiVersus launches throughout PC and consoles. MultiVersus, a free-to-play tackle Nintendo’s Smash Bros. sequence, sees characters from throughout Warner Bros. properties, together with Rick & Morty, battle in a distinctly extra household pleasant setting than NetherRealm’s Mortal Kombat.
This isn’t the primary time Toasted has discovered himself in sizzling water over his mod movies. In January 2024, Toasted claimed “Nintendo has come for me” after a takedown of a tweet teasing a Palworld mod with a clip displaying Pokémon’s Ash Ketchum in place of the participant character, in addition to well-known Pokémon comparable to Pikachu changing Palworld’s Buddies.
The query now for Toasted is how to reply to the stop and desist past taking down the mods and movies. In an announcement supplied to IGN, Toasted insisted he’ll contest the choice. “We’re at present listening to and abiding by Warners Bros request to take away the movies,” Toasted mentioned. “Nevertheless we’re going to contest their resolution. Proper now we’re ready for precise communication from Warner Bros so we are able to resolve the matter.”
Wesley is the UK Information Editor for IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You possibly can attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.