OpenXRay is an improved version of the X-Ray Engine, the game engine used in the world-famous STALKER game series.
Since Microsoft acquired GitHub, the repository locking process has become a mockery, Well, it seems that anyone with a well-crafted request can send it to request the blocking of a repository until it is deleted. The little people in charge of this area at GitHub are not doing their job well.
And since then he acquired, We have shared here on the blog some of the most famous cases on the network about blocking X GitHub repository, which to mention one of the ones that we have shared the most is that of youtube-dl repository and that in theory since 2020, GitHub promised to work to avoid unreasonable blocks, which only remained promises or at least that is what it has shown.
The reason for talking about it, is that the project repository recently opened OpenXRay suffered from a GitHub block, this because of GitHub received a copyright claim request, in which the alleged request mentioned information about DMCA violation on behalf of the company GSC Game World, sent by the anti-piracy protection division, acting in the interests of GSC, in which they basically argued that the OpenXRay project violates GSC's rights.
To give some context to those who don't know about OpenXRay, they should know that this is a project that reproduces the game engine for the first parts of the STALKER game. As such, the project was born after a leak of the STALKER engine source codes and as such, the project is not just another copy, because despite being based on the leaked source code, we can say that it is a version improved, as it has implemented corrections to the original deficiencies, it has introduced new features, such as support for 64-bit platforms, Linux and OpenGL, among other things.
Now that this has been mentioned, many could understand the reason for the "supposed" request, by GSC Game World, which developed the STALKER game series. In which it is mentioned that the repository contains materials obtained through reverse engineering that violates copyright and terms of use.
Copyright Infringement Notice
Dear github.com:
I, [private] Anti-Piracy Protection, am contacting you on behalf of GSC GAME WORLD GLOBAL LTD. Under penalty of perjury, I certify that I am authorized to act on behalf of GSC GAME WORLD GLOBAL LTD, the owner of the exclusive rights to the STALKER computer game.
A search has detected that its website, github.com, provides access to files that infringe GSC GAME WORLD GLOBAL LTD's exclusive rights to the STALKER computer game. I have a good faith belief that the GSC GAME WORLD GLOBAL LTD content described above has not been authorized for use, publication, sharing or distribution on github.com by GSC GAME WORLD GLOBAL LTD, its agent or the law. Therefore, I request that you act promptly to remove or disable access to the infringing content identified in this notice, and to cease and desist any further infringement of GSC GAME WORLD GLOBAL LTD properties.
I affirm that the information contained in this notice is accurate to the best of my knowledge and belief.
GSC GAME WORLD GLOBAL LTD property infringed:
This request not only surprised the OpenXRay developers, but also the entire community. Well, to a certain extent, it was understood that there was an "unsigned agreement" (so to speak) since it has always been in doubt that GSC knew about the project, but did not interfere with its development, since to use OpenXRay, game resources are required. STALKER, which can be obtained by purchasing the original game.
The repository was locked for a few days, until In a later update, the official Twitter of GSC denied the blockade initiative, indicating that the request was false. They assure support for the OpenXRay project and promise to investigate the situation, highlighting that it is not the first attempt to block third-party resources not related to the company.
After that, GitHub announced that it would lift the block after “additional verification,” which showed that the request was submitted fraudulently and in which the engine developers expressed their gratitude to “GSC for the quick response.”
Finally, if you are interested in knowing more about it, you can check the details in the following link.