Billy Mitchell awarded $237K in defamation case vs Karl Jobst

Legendary arcade competitor Billy "King of Kong" Mitchell has been awarded nearly $250,000 in damages after an Australian court ruled that YouTuber Karl Jobst defamed him.

As reported by PC Gamer, Jobst - known for his competitive gaming and speedrunning content - included Mitchell in a controversial video titled "The Biggest Conmen in Video Game History Strike Again!" The court determined the 500,000-view video contained defamatory statements and unfounded claims about Mitchell.

The Controversy Behind the King's Titles

Mitchell originally lost his records in 2018 when Twin Galaxies removed his scores after allegations he used emulation software rather than authentic arcade cabinets to achieve high scores in classics like Donkey Kong and Pac-Man - a violation of competitive rules.

Following years of defending his legacy, Mitchell successfully had his achievements restored to Twin Galaxies' historical archives. His records were also reaffirmed by Guinness World Records in 2020.

The Core of the Legal Battle

Mitchell's lawsuit didn't concern his Donkey Kong records directly. Instead, he took legal action because Jobst's 2021 video allegedly implied Mitchell's prior lawsuit against fellow YouTuber Apollo Legend contributed to Legend's tragic death in 2020. The video reportedly suggested Mitchell showed satisfaction regarding these events.

Jobst later edited the video after Mitchell raised legal concerns, and Legend's family confirmed no financial settlement had occurred.

The Court's Ruling

"I lost. The judge found Billy credible," Jobst stated on X/Twitter, clarifying he never accused Mitchell of cheating and his claims were based on "misinformation from multiple sources."

The court ordered Jobst to pay $187,800 in damages, $31,300 in aggravated damages, plus $22,000 interest totaling approximately $241,000. The judge noted Mitchell could have pursued higher damages.

Mitchell first gained fame in the 2007 documentary King of Kong, which chronicled his rivalry with Steve Wiebe, after achieving gaming perfection with a perfect Pac-Man score in the 1980s.