![[EXCLUSIVE] Dragon’s Dogma 2: Dark Arisen Team Opens Up About the Expansion’s Name, New Norgan Region, and Performance Goals](https://cdn.gamerbraves.com/2026/07/Dragons-Dogma-2-Dark-Arisen_Interview_FI-360x180.jpg)
Japanese indie developer Daikichi, who goes by Daikichi_EMP online, ran into an unusual problem with Steam recently. The platform blocked the demo release of their upcoming game, Wired Tokyo 2007, over concerns that it infringes on intellectual property. The catch is that the IP in question belongs to Daikichi themselves.
Wired Tokyo 2007 is a 3D action game where players climb a giant structure floating above Tokyo, occasionally diving off ledges to progress. A free demo was set to go live on April 30, but it never made it out. Daikichi shared screenshots of their exchange with Steam’s support team on X, showing that the platform flagged assets in the game as possible third-party IP violations, specifically calling out a “dinosaur-themed card game shown in the environment.”
That card game is Dinostone, a trading card game that Daikichi themselves released back in 2023. It appears in Wired Tokyo 2007 as a small nod to the developer’s earlier work. Another board game, Second Best, was also flagged. Both were made by Daikichi.
Steam体験版の審査が遅れていて皆さんすみません、WIRED TOKYO 2007のゲーム内に配置されている過去に自身が制作したボードゲームのモチーフが第三者の知的財産で一生Steam側に引っかかっています。
第三者ではなく私自身の知的財産権を私自身が利用したいだけなので全く意味が分かりません。 pic.twitter.com/XuFvlUVRgH
— WIRED TOKYO 2007 (@Wired_Tokyo) April 29, 2026
The developer says they provided links and evidence showing that both games were published under the same handle, but Steam’s position did not change. Steam’s response asked Daikichi to provide what it called “reasonable assurances,” either in the form of a license agreement or a legal opinion from an attorney confirming that no infringement took place. The message ended with: “Without such assurances, we don’t plan to ship your app.”
This is where things got complicated for Daikichi. The board games were published online under their Daikichi pseudonym rather than their real name, making it difficult to produce an official legal document proving ownership. On X, the developer asked: “Where on Earth can I find an official document that legally proves I own the rights to a board game I published online under a pseudonym?”
Steam体験版の審査が遅れていて皆さんすみません、WIRED TOKYO 2007のゲーム内に配置されている過去に自身が制作したボードゲームのモチーフが第三者の知的財産で一生Steam側に引っかかっています。
第三者ではなく私自身の知的財産権を私自身が利用したいだけなので全く意味が分かりません。 pic.twitter.com/XuFvlUVRgH
— WIRED TOKYO 2007 (@Wired_Tokyo) April 29, 2026
On top of that, hiring a lawyer is not a realistic option for a small indie developer working with a limited budget. “So basically, all I have to do is hire a lawyer and submit a legal opinion letter? Where’s that kind of money supposed to come from with an indie game budget?” Daikichi wrote.
As of May 2, the developer posted an update saying they had written and signed a document granting themselves permission to use all of their original works, including both board games, and resubmitted it to Steam for review. “Well, I hope this works,” they said.
