Activision Files Lawsuit Against Creator of Call of Duty Hacking Software

In a significant move, gaming giant Activision has taken legal action against Ryan Rothholz, the creator of Call of Duty hacking software Lergware and GameHook. The lawsuit was filed in the Central District of California on behalf of Activision by Marc Mayer and Mark Humphrey, partners at law firm Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp's video game practice.

According to the lawsuit, Rothholz developed and released Lergware between 2021 and 2022, selling it to players on his website. The software was later updated to be compatible with Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone in 2023. Activision sent a cease and desist letter to Rothholz, which he allegedly posted on a Discord server and "openly mocked" the publisher.

This move led to an increase in online player "attacks," causing some users to post warning messages online. Activision claims that Rothholz's update resulted in frequent online harassment, negatively impacting the gaming community. The company also accused Rothholz of creating GameHook and recruiting others to resell the software for $50 a game or $375 for lifetime access.

"Activision is informed and believes, and on the basis alleges, that the defendants have received significant revenue from their activities, to the detriment of Activision and its player community," the lawsuit reads. Despite being given the opportunity to respond, Rothholz and his associates allegedly ignored Activision's demands for removal of the software.

In March 2025, Activision sent further cease and desist letters, which led to the shutdown of online storefronts for Lergware and GameHook. However, the company claims that Rothholz and his associates continue to distribute or sell the hack through private channels and servers.

Activision is now seeking "monetary damages, injunctive and other equitable relief, and punitive damages." The company emphasizes the importance of fair play in gaming, stating that cheating and hacking can harm player communities and impact their ability to enjoy high-quality online gameplay.

This lawsuit follows a recent ruling against cheats manufacturer EngineOwning, which Activision was awarded $14.4 million in damages and $292,912 in legal fees for.