Funko released a statement on X (formerly Twitter) clarifying its role in the incident. The company stated that its takedown request targeted a specific page on Itch.io that was “imitating the Funko Fusion development website.” Funko emphasized it did not request a complete shutdown of the Itch.io platform and expressed satisfaction that the site was back online.
The company’s statement further explained that the flagged page had been identified by one of its brand protection partners, though Funko did not name the specific partner responsible nor respond to Itch.io’s criticism of “some trash ‘AI-powered’… software.”
“We have reached out to Itch.io to engage with them on this issue and we deeply appreciate the understanding of the gaming community as the details are determined,” Funko’s statement concluded.
Itch.io’s Response: Itch.io confirmed via its X account that the platform had been restored and acknowledged that it had removed the page flagged by Funko’s notice. The team explained their decision, stating: “It’s not worth fighting stuff like that. Regardless, our registrar’s automated system likely kicked to disable the domain since no one read our confirmation of removal.”
Context and Implications: This incident comes shortly after Itch.io’s recent policy update requiring developers to declare the use of generative AI in their projects. While the connection between this policy and the Funko takedown remains speculative, the incident underscores the challenges faced by digital platforms in navigating automated enforcement tools and brand protection systems. For now, both parties appear committed to resolving the issue, though questions remain about the use of automated tools in such disputes.