Nintendo Cracks Down on Additional Switch Piracy Cases

Key Takeaways

Nintendo is intensifying its legal stance against piracy, targeting additional individuals associated with known modder James "Archbox" Williams. The company’s legal strategy includes a recent lawsuit against Modded Hardware for distributing MIG Switch devices loaded with pirated games. As Nintendo gears up for its next console release, its commitment to defending intellectual property remains unyielding.

Nintendo is not backing down from its pursuit of modders and users of the Switch who are suspected of piracy. A federal court filing recently revealed that the company is broadening its search for more people to take legal action against. This follows suit against a notable Switch modder accused of selling tools to facilitate game piracy.

This latest legal move is another chapter in Nintendo’s ongoing effort to shield its intellectual creations. The gaming powerhouse has often leaned on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to dismantle sources of ROMS and emulators circulating its games and systems. Not long ago, in 2024, Nintendo clinched a $2.4 million settlement after litigating against Tropic Haze—the entity behind the Yuzu Switch emulator. This outcome led to the emulator’s removal from online repositories, although Tropic Haze remains vocally opposed to game piracy.

Though Nintendo’s legal calendar is already packed, they are forging ahead with additional legal notices. A recent filing in a Washington state district court, supported by insights from Stephen Totilo of Game File, indicates that Nintendo is pursuing further individuals following revelations from looking into a known Switch pirate. After legal tangles with James "Archbox" Williams, Nintendo spotlighted the SwitchPirates subreddit—where Williams acted as a moderator. At present, this subreddit hosts over 216,000 members. Previously, Nintendo had secured a default judgment against Williams, as he did not defend himself in court. Currently, Nintendo is seeking court permission to access records from Reddit, Discord, GitHub, Cloudflare, Google, and several domain registrars—including GoDaddy, Namecheap, and Tucows—to hunt down Williams’ alleged associates.

Nintendo’s Continued Fight Against Piracy

Nintendo’s focus from a US district court filing reveals its ongoing quest to identify more individuals connected to piracy activities. They have specifically targeted people tied to James "Archbox" Williams, whom they previously sued for breaching copyright laws. Williams’ absence in court proceedings resulted in a default judgment against him, with Nintendo now requesting subpoenas for business records from prominent internet platforms to bolster their case.

After filing against Williams in June 2024, Nintendo also sued Modded Hardware, a business accused of selling devices like the MIG Switch that often came with pirated game copies. Despite being hit with a cease-and-desist order earlier in March 2024, Modded Hardware leader Ryan Daly persisted in selling these devices until confronted legally by Nintendo.

Having accumulated several legal wins, Nintendo’s ‘zero tolerance’ policy concerning piracy is unmistakable. With the buzz surrounding the new Switch console’s arrival, the gaming community watches closely to see how these diligent investigations by Nintendo will impact the industry moving forward.