Valve Removes $300 CS:GO AWP Rifle Skins Over Alleged Copyright Infringement

thegamer.com:

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive introduced the Doodle Lore skin with the Revolution case, but the skin has since been removed and swapped for the Duality due to it using a design allegedly ripped from @vexx_art.

As highlighted by Danidem (and reported by Dot Esports), the AWP skin may not be the only CS:GO cosmetic to have been pulled without consent. Danidem mentions the M4A4 using stolen artwork, claiming that @vexx_art has been contacted and is apparently going to file a DMCA.

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However, while the artwork has been removed and the AWP skin swapped, @vexx_art isn't holding a grudge. Instead, they made an offer to re-design the Doodle Lore, saying that they're in if CS:GO is down. Despite this positive reaction, they claim to have received death threats from angry players who have now lost their skin, having it replaced by the Duality.

AWP skins tend to be fairly expensive, with the Doodle Lore going for upward of $300, while factory-new Duality skins have been selling for around $220. They're both highly vied for, though with swapping out so many Doodles for Duality's, the market has no doubt saturated.

Removing skins isn't unheard of for CS:GO. The M4A4 Howl was taken away from cases entirely, meaning that can could only acquire it via the market, while the M4A4 Griffin was changed entirely to avoid a DMCA. Filing a DMCA against the Doodle Lore skin would result in a similar result, making it inaccessible for the foreseeable future.

However, if a DMCA isn't filed, it could end up like the Howl, which is now listed as a Contraband-tier skin. This means it's selling for a pretty penny - according to CSGOStash.com, it ranges anywhere from £2,600 to £5,226.