Not content with just banning hackers responsible for developing cheats for StarCraft II, Blizzard hopes to make an example of those primarily responsible.

Blizzard has recently banned 5,000 players of StarCraft 2, who it believes were using exploits to cheat in the online arena. The company has now filed a lawsuit in an LA US District Court against three individuals who it claims are responsible for creating the unauthorised hacks, which are said to violate Battle.net terms and conditions.

Via Gamespot, the lawsuit reads: "Just days after the release of StarCraft II, Defendants already had developed, marketed, and distributed to the public a variety of hacks and cheats designed to modify (and in fact destroy) the Starcraft II online game experience. In fact, on the very day that Starcraft II was released, representatives of the hacks Web site advised members of the public that 'our staff is already planning new releases for this game.'"

"The harm to Blizzard from Defendants' conduct is immediate, massive and irreparable. By distributing the Hacks to the public, Defendants cause serious harm to the value of StarCraft II.

"Among other things, Defendants irreparably harm the ability of Blizzard's legitimate customers (i.e. those who purchase and use unmodified games) to enjoy and participate in the competitive online experience. That, in turn, causes users to grow dissatisfied with the game, lose interest in the game, and communicate that dissatisfaction, thereby resulting in lost sales of the game or 'add-on' packs and expansions thereto."

Blizzard want the trio to pay out a cut of the money they received from selling the hacks and also seek damages for what it claims are "multiple counts of copyright infringement. "