Valve Faces Two More Lawsuits Over Loot Boxes and Music Rights

The gaming company is accused of promoting illegal gambling and violating UK copyright law.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Valve, the company behind popular games like Dota 2 and Counter-Strike, is facing two new lawsuits. One is a class action lawsuit from a law firm accusing Valve of profiting massively from deceptive loot box systems that constitute illegal gambling. The other lawsuit is from the UK organization PRS for Music, which claims Valve is hosting games that feature copyrighted music without obtaining proper licensing.

Why it matters

These lawsuits highlight the ongoing legal battles over loot boxes and the use of copyrighted material in the gaming industry. Valve's handling of these issues could set precedents that impact the entire industry.

The details

The class action lawsuit from Hagens Berman law firm accuses Valve of creating a "carefully crafted system of loot boxes" in games like Dota 2 and Counter-Strike that use "deceptive psychological techniques typical of casinos" to extract money from consumers, including children. The firm wants the court to prohibit Valve from engaging in this alleged "gambling" and compel the company to pay triple the damages. The second lawsuit from PRS for Music claims Valve is hosting many games on Steam that feature copyrighted music from PRS members, including titles like Forza Horizon and GTA, without obtaining proper licensing from PRS. PRS says it has tried for years to negotiate licenses with Valve to no avail.

  • In late February 2026, the state of New York filed a lawsuit against Valve.
  • Recently, the class action lawsuit from Hagens Berman was filed against Valve.

The players

Valve

The video game company behind popular titles like Dota 2, Counter-Strike, and the Steam digital distribution platform.

Hagens Berman

A law firm that filed a class action lawsuit against Valve over the company's use of loot boxes in its games, which the firm claims constitute illegal gambling.

PRS for Music

A UK organization that represents the interests of musicians and is suing Valve for hosting games on Steam that feature copyrighted music without proper licensing.

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What’s next

The courts will need to rule on the merits of the lawsuits against Valve, which could set important precedents for the gaming industry's use of loot boxes and copyrighted material.

The takeaway

These lawsuits underscore the growing legal scrutiny and public concern over the gaming industry's monetization practices, particularly around loot boxes, as well as the need for clearer guidelines and enforcement around the use of copyrighted material in video games.