Nintendo is suing James Williams, a Reddit moderator known as Archbox, seeking $4.5 million in damages over allegations of running Switch piracy sites and selling hardware hacks.
Nintendo’s Claims Against Williams
Nintendo claims that Williams operated multiple piracy sites, sold hardware hacks, and provided modified Switch consoles with pirated games. The company says Williams ignored its cease-and-desist orders, leading to the lawsuit.
Nintendo’s legal complaint reveals that Williams stopped responding to their requests, prompting the legal action. They were awarded a default judgment after he missed court deadlines.
Nintendo’s Legal Tactics
Nintendo previously traced Williams through his online activities, which included sharing personal details and sending his Switch for repairs. This helped the company identify him as Archbox.
In 2024, Nintendo’s legal efforts successfully shut down the Switch emulator Yuzu and the 3DS emulator Citra. They have not yet sued OpenAI over the Sora 2 tool, which features unauthorized AI videos.
Additional Legal Challenges
Nintendo is engaged in legal actions against various developers, including Palworld and Pocketpair. They have also secured a patent that may impact future Pokémon-inspired games.
The ongoing legal strategies suggest Nintendo aims to protect its intellectual property in various areas.
