Dark and Darker: lawsuits and the game’s future
Intelligence Summary
- A South Korean Supreme Court ruling clears Dark and Darker of copyright claims, giving Ironmace more legal certainty.
Dark and Darker: lawsuits and the game’s future
The hardcore fantasy PvPvE dungeon-crawler Dark and Darker can continue development without the threat of shutdown, following a recent ruling from South Korea’s Supreme Court. The decision dismissed Nexon’s copyright infringement claims and gives developer Ironmace renewed legal certainty.
Legal context
Dark and Darker, developed by Ironmace, has been at the center of a legal battle with Nexon, one of South Korea’s biggest game companies. Nexon accused Ironmace of stealing trade secrets tied to a canceled project, codenamed P3. The company claimed that former employees now working at Ironmace had improperly used Nexon’s confidential information in the development of Dark and Darker.
The court, however, ruled that Ironmace was not guilty of copyright infringement regarding the P3 layout. That meant development of Dark and Darker could continue, although Ironmace was also found liable for trade-secret misappropriation.
Timeline
April 30, 2026: South Korea’s Supreme Court rules and dismisses Nexon’s copyright infringement claims.
April 30, 2026: Ironmace is allowed to
