Gérard Simon, president of the association of players of the Golden Owl treasure hunt, was acquitted on Tuesday in Strasbourg after being tried for defamation. The correctional court ruled that Simon's statements were protected under freedom of expression and did not amount to defamation. The case involved a dispute over the legitimacy of the Golden Owl, a popular treasure hunt game, and Simon’s criticisms of its organizers. Michel Becker, who manages the treasure hunt and the company SAS Les éditions de la chouette d'or, was ordered to pay 2,500 euros to Simon and 2,500 euros to the A2CO association, which represents around 200 to 300 enthusiasts. Lawyer Marie Lickel, who worked with Lionel Vest, Becker’s defense attorney, expressed disappointment with the court’s decision, saying it was unexpected. The Golden Owl is a long-running puzzle game created by Régis Hauser, who used the pseudonym Max Valentin. He passed away in 2009. The treasure hunt was launched in 1993 with the publication of "Sur la trace de la Chouette d'or," a book of riddles leading to a hidden owl somewhere in France. In October 2024, Michel Becker announced that the treasure had been found in the village of Dabo in the Moselle region. However, some enthusiasts, including Simon, remain skeptical, arguing that the location has been searched extensively since the game's inception. Simon, a former mathematics professor, had been sued by Becker after posting online, through his association’s forum, a criminal complaint alleging numerous violations, including "organized fraud." Simon also made statements describing the game as a "farce" and a "fiasco." Lionel Vest, Becker’s lawyer, noted that the filing of the complaint had a "devastating" effect, as it occurred just days before the theatrical release of a film that revealed the solutions to the riddles. This prompted Becker to cancel the launch of a second treasure hunt.