Grand Theft Auto video game features Galaxy Note 7 as explosive weapon

More than just burn through carpeting, this version of the Note 7 in GTA 5 is powerful enough to blow up a car. Image HitmanNiko

The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is officially discontinued and all units are currently being recalled to avoid further property damage. However, the phones seem to be in abundance in the virtual world through a custom mod for the game Grand Theft Auto 5 (GTA 5).

TechRadar reports that Samsung recently issued a takedown claim for a YouTube video that showed the Note 7 being used as an explosive weapon within GTA 5.

The game mod was created by HitmanNiko and it essentially disguises the sticky bomb weapon so that it will look like the infamous Galaxy Note 7. Being in a game environment, the Note 7’s combustible nature is exaggerated to ridiculous proportions. It may be all fun to gamers but Samsung doesn’t think so.

According to YouTube’s copyright violation rules, the takedown issuance doesn’t have much merit. The tools are generally designed to take care of videos that are explicitly copyrighted materials such as film clips, TV episodes, songs and movies.

Since the mod is a fan-made reproduction of the Note 7, it may not have much bearing on YouTube’s rules. The video’s owner that featured the mod can simply file a counter-claim and get the video back online.

The mod may poke fun at the expense of Samsung’s reputation, but as it stands there are far bigger issues that the company should be concerned about, such as the banning of Note 7s on airplanes and the successful retrieval of all Galaxy Note 7 units than a fan-made game mod.  Alfred Bayle