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RSPS Under Pressure: Inside the New Legal Strategy Targeting Private Servers In recent months, the RuneScape Private Server (RSPS) scene has experienced a renewed wave of legal pressure, marked by an increase in domain takedowns, platform removals, and direct warnings to server operators. At the centre of these actions is Jagex, the developer of RuneScape, which has escalated its enforcement strategy through a mixture of formal complaints, trademark actions, and coordinated third-party enforcement. A Surge in UDRP Takedowns Earlier this year, multiple RSPS-related domains were targeted through UDRP (Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy) requests. These actions focused primarily on websites containing terms such as Rune, RuneScape, or other trademarks associated with Jagex. A detailed breakdown of this phase can be found here: https://rspstoplist.com/blogs/46-a-new-hope-jagex-terminates-udrp-actions/ What made this wave notable was not just the number of complaints, but the breadth of data required to file them. Domain registrars and arbitration providers typically require verified contact details, ownership records, and historical usage data to process UDRP submissions. Opinion: Some within the RSPS community believe these processes may have enabled the large-scale collection of personal information through “legal” channels. While UDRP procedures themselves are lawful, concerns remain about how broadly this information is gathered, stored, and potentially reused. These concerns remain speculative and unproven. Interestingly, after several initial filings, the UDRP campaign appeared to pause. Domains hosted through services such as varla.io have not yet seen the same volume of enforcement—despite being within scope of earlier complaints. However, in at least one instance, Jagex did not rely solely on UDRP procedures and instead issued a direct cease-and-desist notice alongside the complaint, signalling a more aggressive posture. Content Creators Enter the Crosshairs The enforcement campaign has not been limited to websites alone. RSPS-focused YouTube creators have also faced takedowns and channel strikes, as documented here: https://rspstoplist.com/blogs/113-jagex-takes-out-rsps-youtubers/ Evidence suggests these actions are being handled via automated brand-protection platforms, including systems such as Web Capio, which allow rights-holders to rapidly identify, flag, and remove infringing content at scale. For many creators, this has resulted in: Sudden video removals Channel warnings or strikes Loss of monetisation or visibility Inside Sources and the Next Phase According to an unverified insider source claiming to work within Jagex, the company has repeatedly attempted to pressure major RSPS operators to shut down voluntarily. Despite this, new servers continue to appear, often faster than enforcement actions can suppress them. The same source suggests Jagex is now waiting for a test case—specifically, a server that directly leaches or reproduces unreleased or in-development content, such as Sailing. Such a case could allow Jagex to pursue full liability proceedings, rather than trademark or platform-based enforcement alone, potentially reshaping the entire RSPS landscape. Active Reconnaissance and Evidence Gathering Legal firm Stobbs IP, known for representing large IP holders, is believed to be increasingly involved. Multiple RSPS operators report suspected reconnaissance efforts, including: Newly created Discord accounts joining private server communities Individuals posing as players, developers, or contributors Requests for internal access, builds, or documentation While difficult to verify independently, these reports align with standard pre-litigation evidence-gathering practices used in intellectual property disputes. What This Means for Server Owners Whether or not court proceedings materialise, the direction of travel is clear. Our advice: If your server uses Jagex assets 1:1, operates as a vanilla clone, or directly mirrors official content, the legal risk has never been higher. In our assessment, operators in this position should seriously consider shutting down or radically restructuring their projects. The RSPS scene has weathered enforcement waves before. But this phase—marked by automation, insider intelligence, and the prospect of a high-profile court case—may prove to be the most consequential yet. Stay vigilant. Stay informed.