Epic Games settles lawsuit against former contractor accused of leaking unannounced Fortnite collaborations
Epic Games has reached a settlement with former Fortnite associate producer Hayden Cohen, who was accused of repeatedly leaking confidential information about the game’s unannounced collaborations with major entertainment properties.
Cohen had disclosed details about upcoming Fortnite partnerships featuring Minecraft, Ben 10, Game of Thrones, South Park, and Overwatch before they were officially announced. These leaks exposed both the collaborative partners’ intellectual property and Epic’s internal trade secrets related to partnership agreements.
Under the proposed settlement terms, Cohen has agreed to a strict non-disclosure agreement prohibiting them from possessing, accessing, using, or disclosing any of Epic’s confidential or trade secret information in the future. The agreement also prevents Cohen from sharing such information with third parties, effectively restricting their ability to work in similar roles or publicly discuss the leaked details.
The settlement represents a common legal resolution for companies facing IP theft or unauthorized disclosure—resolving the matter without the expense of a full trial while establishing legally binding restrictions on the former employee’s future conduct. The case highlights challenges major gaming companies face in protecting confidential partnership agreements and unannounced collaborations, which are key components of live-service game strategies.
The settlement still requires judicial approval to become final, though the agreement between Epic’s legal team and Cohen indicates both parties have reached acceptable terms to resolve the dispute.