Billy Mitchell, known for his Donkey Kong and Pac-Man world records since 1982, recently secured a legal victory in the Brisbane district court against Australian YouTuber Karl Jobst. The court ruled that Jobst defamed Mitchell in a 2021 video, ordering him to pay $350,000 in damages, along with interest and costs.
Background of the case
In 2021, Karl Jobst published a YouTube video alleging that Mitchell had cheated to achieve his high scores and engaged in baseless litigation against his detractors. The video also insinuated that Mitchell’s legal actions contributed to the suicide of fellow YouTuber Ben Smith, known as “Apollo Legend.” The court found these claims to be false and said it caused significant harm to Mitchell’s reputation.
Court findings
Judge Ken Barlow highlighted that Jobst’s assertions were based on falsehoods and that he failed to verify the accuracy of his claims before publishing the video. This reckless indifference led to the damages awarded to Mitchell.
Despite previous controversies surrounding his gaming achievements, this is a big victory for Mitchell. The court’s decision emphasizes the necessity for content creators to adhere to ethical standards and verify information before making public accusations. Unfortunately, for Jobst, the court has ordered the creator to pay Mitchell $350,000 plus interest and costs.
Karl Jobst posted on X that he’ll soon release a video covering everything about the ruling.
Featured image courtesy: Great Big Story