Company that made a Steam Machine wrap based on Valve intellectual property without asking forced to take it down
Dbrand, the consumer electronics accessory company known for phone cases and vinyl wraps, has canceled its planned Companion Cube-themed wrap for the Steam Machine following a cease-and-desist demand from Valve. The company created the design based on the iconic weighted Companion Cube from Valve’s Portal series without obtaining a license for the intellectual property.
The wrap was initially previewed on social media following the Steam Machine announcement in November, but pre-orders officially went live on June 22. Valve swiftly moved to protect its intellectual property, forcing Dbrand to halt the product and all shipments.
Dbrand subsequently acknowledged its error, stating “being proud of the thing we made did not give us the right to make it” and expressing that they will “regret that decision for a very long time.” The incident underscores the legal complexities companies face when utilizing licensed intellectual property without authorization, highlighting the necessity of securing proper agreements before developing products based on established gaming IP.