Billy Mitchell Wins $237K in Defamation Suit Against YouTuber Karl Jobst

Arcade gaming legend Billy "King of Kong" Mitchell has secured a significant victory in court, winning nearly a quarter of a million dollars in damages after successfully suing Australian YouTuber Karl Jobst for defamation. As reported by PC Gamer, Jobst, known for his content on competitive and speedrunning gaming, featured Mitchell in his video titled "The Biggest Conmen in Video Game History Strike Again!" The video, which garnered 500,000 views, was deemed by the court to contain defamatory, inaccurate, and unsubstantiated claims about Mitchell.

Mitchell's gaming credentials came under scrutiny in 2018 when he was initially stripped of his titles after his scores were removed from Twin Galaxies' leaderboards. This followed allegations that he used a MAME (Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator) instead of arcade cabinets to achieve his records in games like Donkey Kong, Pac-Man, and Donkey Kong Jr., a practice that violates the rules. However, after a prolonged defense of his records, Mitchell managed to have his accolades reinstated in a "historical database" on Twin Galaxies' website. Additionally, his high scores were reinstated by the Guinness World Records in 2020.

The defamation lawsuit against Jobst was not about the validity of Mitchell's Donkey Kong scores but rather centered on claims made in Jobst's 2021 video. Mitchell alleged that the video suggested his previous legal action against another YouTuber, Benjamin "Apollo Legend" Smith, resulted in Smith having to pay $1 million in damages and contributed to Smith's tragic suicide in 2020. The video also reportedly implied that Mitchell had taken pleasure in Smith's death.

In response to Mitchell's legal threats, Jobst edited the video, and Smith's brother confirmed that no money had changed hands. Jobst took to X/Twitter to express his disappointment, stating, "I lost. The judge found Billy to be a credible witness and believed his entire testimony." He clarified that he did not accuse Mitchell of cheating and that his claims about Smith were based on "incorrect information from multiple sources." Despite the loss, Jobst emphasized his commitment to free expression and thanked his supporters, promising to work hard to repay their support.

The court ordered Jobst to pay $187,800 (AU$300,000) for non-economic loss, $31,300 (AU$50,000) for aggravated damages, and $22,000 (AU$34,668.50) in interest, totaling around $241,000. The judge noted that while Mitchell could have justified a higher amount for aggravated damages, the amount sought by Mitchell was awarded.

Mitchell's rise to fame began with his perfect score in Pac-Man during the '80s and was further cemented by the 2007 documentary, King of Kong, which documented his rivalry with Steve Wiebe.