A recent violation of Niantic’s Terms of Service has gotten Brandon Tan banned from Pokemon Go. Tan, a member of the prestigious “Level 40 Club” and widely considered to be the best player in the world, had the following to say on Twitter:
“Just woke up after 14 hours of sleep, received this msg when I tried to log in
Thank you to everyone who msged me to show concern, but to be honest, I’m okay about it. Just that I’m worried I may look for another game to play during this period and not come back to Pogo.”
The message he had received from Niantic said the following:
Account Suspension Notice
Your account has been suspended for violating the Terms of Service.
This suspension will last approximately 30 days. Any further transgressions will result in permanent account termination.
Visit the Help Center for more information
It is unknown at present what exactly Tan did to violate the Terms of Service, although it is likely due to the “Mewtwo Service” he announced on Twitter on September 20. Although he has since deleted the tweet, screenshots of his advertisement still exist:
This “service” directly violates Niantic’s Terms of Service, which includes the following clause:
By way of example, and not as a limitation, you agree that when using the Services and Content, you will not:
Use the Services or Content, or any portion thereof, for any commercial purpose or for the benefit of any third party or in a manner not permitted by these Terms, including but not limited to (a) gathering in App items or resources for sale outside the App, (b) performing services in the App in exchange for payment outside the App, or (c ) sell, resell, rent, or lease the App or your Account.
Tan’s ban is therefore just and in line with Niantic’s code of conduct. He may be the best in the world, but that doesn’t mean he can ignore the rules. As of now, Tan is unsure as to whether or not he will return to Pokemon Go after his temporary ban is up.
