Dbrand, a company recognized for its custom vinyl wraps and cases for electronic devices, has halted plans to release its "Companion Cube" wrap for the Steam Machine. The decision comes after Valve, the intellectual property holder of the game series the design was based on, requested the product's removal.
The "Companion Cube" design, inspired by the iconic puzzle element from Valve's Portal series, was initially teased via social media shortly after the Steam Machine's unveiling in November of the previous year. However, pre-orders for the wrap did not open until June 22.
Dbrand revealed on Reddit that it developed the wrap without obtaining a license from Valve. This led to Valve's legal team contacting Dbrand, demanding the immediate takedown of the product and all associated promotional materials. Dbrand complied with the request but attempted to appeal, even inquiring about the possibility of acquiring a license, which Valve ultimately refused.
"In the months that followed, we built the idea into something real without ever asking Valve if we could," Dbrand stated in its Reddit post, admitting the company would "regret that decision for a very long time."
Despite the setback, Valve has stated its intention to share design documentation for the Steam Machine's magnetically attached front plate. This will enable users with 3D printers to create their own custom plates.
This is not the first time Dbrand has faced intellectual property disputes. In 2021, the company was involved in a similar situation with Sony over custom replacement faceplates for the PlayStation 5. Dbrand had to pull that product after Sony threatened legal action.