StarForce, a Russian firm developing a poorly engineered anti-copying application that is used by some game distributors, is pretending to be threatening BoingBoing for exposing the application for its crappyness.

The megablog earlier today received an email from "PR-manager" Dennis Zhidkov:

"I urge you to remove your post from [link]because it is full of insults, lies, false accusations and rumors. Your article violates approximately 11 international laws. Our USlawyer will contact you shortly. I have also contacted the FBI , because what you are doing is harassment."

Sigh… Why don't I ever get such amusing emails? I'd love to violate approximately 11 international laws. Or see how the FBI would get involved in a case that is clearly outside of its jurisdiction. But then, how would a Russian like Zhidkov know?

And the most amusing fact is that Zhidkov's email will only backfire now that he has exposed his company as being completely clueless about the law and point even more people to the questionable reputation of its software.

Starforce actually has a history of leashing out against people that dare to criticize its anti piracy protection in computer games. And it's PR policy is about hitting first and ask ing questions later.

Boingboing was spot-on about StarForce software messing with users operating systems. As one experienced gaming journalist wrote in October last year in an email to Mr. Zhidkov:

"Myself and my peers have come across many games with StarForce, among other systems, installed and as much as one or two problems might be considered circumstantial evidence against the system, consistent and regular problems following the same patterns I would view as concrete beyond reasonable doubt."

Zhidkov's only reply back then: "I respect your opinion".

The company meanwhile is waging a PR war to disarm some of the more serious claims about the software containing rootkits or disabling CD-Rom drives.

But the company addressed widespread complaints about its device drivers causing system instability and computer crashes.

Game over for Starforce?

Tags: starforce, boingboing, frivolous lawsuit