Nintendo is seeking $4.5 million in damages from a Reddit moderator for piracy.
Nintendo aims for $4.5 million
Targeting Reddit moderator Archbox
Accused of promoting Switch piracy
Nintendo previously warned the moderator
The moderator has responded to the lawsuit
No ruling has been made yet
Further updates will be shared
Nintendo of America has filed a lawsuit against James C. Williams, known online as Archbox, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington. The company seeks $4.5 million in statutory damages and a permanent injunction for alleged Nintendo Switch piracy.[1][2]
Allegations of Infringement
The June 2024 complaint alleges that Williams:
Operated multiple “pirate shops” facilitating downloads of Nintendo Switch titles.[1]
Distributed or enabled distribution of hundreds of thousands of unauthorized game copies via Reddit and related websites.[2]
Supplied software and instructions to bypass Nintendo’s security measures, violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.[2][1]
Legal Timeline
March 2024
Nintendo served Williams with a cease-and-desist letter demanding he stop all piracy operations. Williams acknowledged receipt but did not cease infringing activities.[3]
May 2024
A final notice was sent; Williams did not respond or comply.
June 2024
Nintendo filed its federal complaint, seeking $150,000 per infringed title for 30 titles—totaling $4.5 million—and injunctive relief.[3]
August 2024
Williams was identified through his email and online accounts and was served with the lawsuit. He did not file an answer, prompting Nintendo to move for default judgment.[4]
Next Steps
The court has not yet ruled on Nintendo’s motion for default judgment. If granted, Williams will be liable for the full damages award and barred from further distribution of infringing content. No trial date is scheduled.
Luca Fischer is a senior technology journalist with more than twelve years of professional experience specializing in artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and consumer electronics. He earned his M.S. in Computer Science from Columbia University in 2011, where he developed a strong foundation in data science and network security before transitioning into tech media.
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