Overview
- Game File, PC Gamer and PCGamesN reported Friday and Saturday that Epic and former contractor Hayden Cohen have agreed to a proposed settlement that includes a permanent injunction restricting his access to Epic’s confidential or trade-secret material.
- The court filings describe a stipulated judgment that would bar Cohen from possessing, accessing, using, or disclosing Epic’s confidential information or helping others do so, and the agreement must be approved by a federal judge in North Carolina.
- Epic’s March lawsuit alleged the anonymous leaker known as AdiraFN was Cohen and that he repeatedly posted pre-release Fortnite content on X and Discord while under an NDA.
- The filed settlement does not disclose any monetary payment even though Epic originally sought compensatory damages and fees, and Epic says Cohen’s access had already been revoked and he was sent a cease-and-desist; Cohen has not publicly commented.
- Epic framed the suit as protecting partner IP after it said the leaks harmed partner relationships and blunted announcement impact, but independent community leakers remain active so legal enforcement may limit but not eliminate future spoiler circulation.