Tag: Legal
News Pour One Out For The Modchip Seller Facing Nintendo In Court Alone
Hounds, released
Back in July, Nintendo filed a lawsuit against Modded Hardware — an online store which, as you might expect, sells modded Switch consoles and chips — in its continued attempt to clamp down on piracy. Three months on, the alleged owner of the store, Ryan Daly, has filed his answer to the complaints where he denies any wrongdoing...
News Nintendo Patents Filed After Palworld's Release Suggest Lawsuit Prep Started Months Ago
Pika your battles
Last week, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company announced that they were filing a patent infringement lawsuit against Palworld developer Pocketpair. While the latter studio claimed it was "unaware of the specific patents we are accused of infringing upon," online speculation soon began to throw out various plausible-sounding submis
News Californian Law Dictates Storefronts Be Honest About Digital Game Ownership
A license to kill your purchase
A new Californian law will come into effect in 2025 that will effectively force digital storefronts to disclose that buyers don't actually own their digital puchases, but rather simply licensing the content. Naturally, we suspect that most of our audience will already be aware of this, but it's entirely possible that...
News Palworld's Japan Release On PS5 Delayed As Nintendo's Lawsuit Looms
Hold yer horses, pal
If you managed to catch Sony's latest State of Play broadcast, then you'll know that Pocketpair's Palworld has scored a shadow drop release on PS5. At least, in some countries, that is. Y'see, the game's launch has been indefinitely delayed in Japan. As detailed in a social media post from the Japanese Palworld account, its...
News Analyst Is Certain Nintendo Will Win Its Lawsuit Against Palworld Developer
"Nintendo took its time to really build the case"
While everyone is patiently awaiting news from Nintendo regarding its upcoming Switch successor, the company made another, undoubtedly more surprising, announcement. Months after Palworld's release, Nintendo has now filed a patent lawsuit against developer Pocketpair, claiming that Palworld...
News Palworld Developer Responds To Nintendo Lawsuit
"we will do our utmost for our fans"
Following the announcement of a patent lawsuit filed against Palworld developer Pocketpair from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, the former has now released a statement responding to the complaint. The lawsuit from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company mentions that Palworld "infringes multiple patent rights",...
News AI Generator Scraped YouTube Videos Without Permission, Including Nintendo's
Uh oh...
Runway, the multi-billion dollar company claiming to 'move creativity forward' with artificial intelligence (yuck!) has reportedly trained its text-to-video generator by scraping thousands of videos from YouTube, potentially including several of Nintendo's channels. As discovered and reported by 404 Media, the information comes via a...
News Nintendo Live Threat Culprit Sentenced To One Year In Prison
All because he kept losing at Splatoon 3
The man charged with sending threats to Nintendo, leading to the cancellation of Tokyo's Nintendo Live event earlier this year, has been sentenced to one year in prison following a court ruling (thanks, Splatoon Torikara & Nintendo Everything). The 27-year-old individual admitted to his crimes last...
News Red Art Games Has Fallen Victim To A Significant Cyberattack
Multiple customer details compromised
Red Art Games has announced that it has fallen victim to a significant cyberattack in which multiple customer details have been compromised. The company confirms that all bank details are safe, but details including email addresses and shipping addresses have been affected. It has also confirmed that shipments,...
News Sega Takes Legal Action Against Social Media User For Harassment Toward Employee
Good on you, Sega
Sega has announced that it has taken legal action against an individual committing consistent harassment against one of its employees (thanks, Automaton). In a post on its Japanese corporate site, Sega explained that it had been in contact with the individual in question for some time, but after the harassment had not improved,...
Random Zelda Fan Jailed For Carrying Small Master Sword Replica
"It is possible to find fidget toys that aren't six-inch blades"
In The Legend of Zelda franchise, finding and carrying the legendary Master Sword is perhaps one of the most important tasks you'll need to accomplish to defeat evil and save the land of Hyrule. For one individual, however, carrying a replica Master Sword around in real life has led to...
News Nintendo Files Two New Lawsuits In Continued Clamp Down On Switch Piracy
The quest continues
Nintendo is continuing to clamp down on Switch piracy this week by filing two brand-new lawsuits (thanks, TorrentFreak). The first of these targets Modded Hardware, a group that has been on Nintendo's radar for a few months now — and with a name like that, you can imagine why. Run by Ryan Daly (aka "Hombrew Homie", apparently)...
News Nintendo Live Suspect Admits To Threats, Blames Being A Sore Loser
"When I kept losing, I became increasingly frustrated"
The suspect accused of sending threats to Nintendo and attending audiences during the now-cancelled Nintendo Live event in Tokyo earlier this year has now admitted to the charges (thanks, Splatoon Torikara). What's more, when explaining the motive behind his threats, the 27-year-old indiv
News Nintendo Files DMCA Against Fan-Made 'Rhythm Heaven' Remix Software
Wubbadubbadub izzat true?
Nintendo has filed a DMCA takedown against fan-made software 'Heaven Studio', a tool which enabled people to upload their own music and pair it with one of the rhythm-based minigames from the Rhythm Heaven series. As reported by TorrentFreak (thanks, VGC), the Heaven Studio GitHub repository has been removed following...
Random Welp, Now Nintendo's Going After Sheet Music
DMCA'd
It should come as no surprise that Nintendo is pretty protective regarding its IP. Going after emulators, ROM hacks, and reproductions is one thing, but it looks like the firm is starting to aim its sights on something rather surprising: sheet music. According to two separate community posts on YouTube, it seems like Nintendo is looking to...
News Nintendo Issues Multiple DMCAs On The Modding Site 'GameBanana'
Smash Bros. Ultimate and Zelda: TOTK targeted
Nintendo has seemingly issued multiple DMCA takedowns against mods hosted on the community site GameBanana. As member 'Waikuteru' highlighted, more than 60 separate DMCA takedowns have been issued over just a few days with 40 directed at them specifically, rendering their GameBanana profile empty of mod...
News Nintendo Hacker Gary Bowser Says Conviction Was "A Blessing"
"Life is path of choices, I made the wrong one"
Gary Bowser, the infamous figure who was convicted for his role with Team Xecuter in facilitating piracy of Nintendo games, has recently spoken to UNILAD to state that he sees his arrest and subsequent conviction as "a blessing". Alongside serving 14 of his 30-month prison sentence, Bowser was...
News Switch "Joy-Con Drift" Class Action Lawsuit Dismissed After Five Years
Five years of effort ended "with a whimper"
Throughout the lifespan of the Nintendo Switch, there has been all sorts of controversy surrounding Joy-Con controller drift. As the generation winds down, it looks like "5 years of efforts" to sue Nintendo over "Joy-Con drift" issues have now come to an end. As highlighted by Game File reporter Stephen...
News Creators Of New Switch Emulator 'Suyu' Hope To Avoid Nintendo's Wrath
"Suyu currently exists in a legal gray area"
Earlier this month, the Switch emulator Yuzu was shut down in response to a legal push from Nintendo. It wasn't all that surprising given the Big-N's historic protection of its properties and disapproval of unsanctioned emulation, and equally unsurprising is that a new Switch emulator is already stepping...
Reaction Nintendo's Switch Emulator Fallout Is Shocking Only Because It Took This Long
Emulator action
Well, that was quick... But also slow. That Nintendo would take action against programs that circumvent security and open up obvious avenues to playing Switch games without having purchased them is entirely unsurprising given the platform holder's historic 'emulation is piracy' stance. But the speed with which Tropic Haze, the...
News Switch Emulator Yuzu To Pay $2.4 Million To Nintendo & Cease Development
3DS emulator Citra to also shut down
Tropic Haze, the creators of the Switch emulator Yuzu, have agreed to pay Nintendo USD $2.4 million in damages as well as shut down the emulator for the hybrid console, along with the 3DS emulator Citra. This news comes just a week after Nintendo filed a lawsuit against the creators, and around a day after Tropic...
News Nintendo Sets Its Sights On Switch Emulator Yuzu In New Lawsuit
It wants "a shutdown of the emulator"
Nintendo has always had an incredibly strong stance against video game piracy and it's now taking legal action against the creators of the Switch emulator Yuzu. As highlighted by Stephen Totilo of Game File, the Japanese video game giant known for hits like Super Mario and
News Hacker Gary Bowser Discusses Post-Jail Life And Chipping Away At Nintendo's $14m
"I’ll pay them what I can"
Notorious figure Gary Bowser, who was convicted in 2022 for his role in criminal activity involving piracy of Nintendo games, has talked about his current circumstances, including struggles to pay electric and medical bills in the time since his early release from prison. Speaking to Patricia Hernandez for The Guardian,...
News Nintendo Hacker Gary Bowser Says He's "Not Involved" With New Switch Flash Cart
Plot twist!
A new flash cart marketed as "the only back-up and development device" for all Switch consoles was recently teased and in a surprise plot twist, it's now led to the infamous Nintendo hacker Gary Bowser denying his involvement with the project. The former Team-Xecuter member, who was previously jailed and fined $10 million in damages,...
News Disgruntled Switch Fans File Class Action Lawsuit Over KOTOR II DLC Cancellation
Aspyr gave Switch owners a free game instead
Earlier this year in June, developer Aspyr announced it would no longer be releasing "The Sith Lords" DLC for the Nintendo Switch version of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II. Instead of refunds, it offered a free Star Wars game. In response to this, a group of Star Wars loving Switch fans in the...
News The GameCube And Wii Emulator Dolphin Is No Longer Coming To Steam
"We are abandoning our efforts"
The team behind GameCube and Wii emulator Dolphin has announced it is "abandoning" its efforts to release the product on Steam. Valve's requirement is for the Dolphin team "to get approval from Nintendo" for a Steam release, and this is believed to be "impossible". "Valve ultimately runs the store and can set any...
News After Heaps Of Legal Drama, Devil Engine Gets Its Own Physical Edition On Switch
Game's composer isn't happy
You might remember back in 2020 and 2021, there was a boatload of legal drama surrounding the rather brilliant shmup Devil Engine, whereby the game's artist and composer - siblings Thomas and Joseph Bailey - had claimed that developer Tristan Chapman (known on Twitter as 'Sinoc229') had been utilising their respective...
News Sonic Co-Creator Yuji Naka Found Guilty Of Insider Trading
Receives suspended sentence and huge fine
The former Square Enix and Sega developer Yuji Naka has now been sentenced to two years and six months in prison, with a probation period of four years. He's also received fines of two million and 171 million yen. Website and social media account 'SEGAbits' shared a bit more detail about this based on a...
News Activision CEO Made 'A Bad Judgement' In Not Supporting The Nintendo Switch More
Console has sold more than 125 million units
During day four of what is already proving to be a surprisingly gripping trial relating to Microsoft's planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick took to the stand and stated his deep regret in not supporting the Nintendo Switch more over the course of its lifespan so far. As...
News PlayStation Boss Doesn't Think Call Of Duty Appeals To Nintendo's Core Audience
You know, the fans who enjoy "Mario and Zelda"
As part of the Activision Blizzard acquisition, Microsoft's aim is to bring Call of Duty to as many platforms as possible. This includes Nintendo's devices, with a 10-year legal agreement already penned. The only thing Xbox has got to overcome first is the FTC and Sony's attempts to block the deal. The...
News The FTC Doesn't Seem To Think Switch Is A Serious PlayStation & Xbox Competitor
Microsoft's Phil Spencer says it's "incorrect"
Microsoft is currently locked in a courtroom battle with the Federal Trade Commission over its proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and although the focus is mostly on Xbox, on day two of the proceedings, the Nintendo Switch has already been dragged into the fight. According to The...
News Valve Confirms It Contacted Nintendo About Dolphin Emulator Coming To Steam
"We brought this to their attention proactively"
Towards the end of May, the team behind Dolphin Emulator revealed its release on Steam had been "indefinitely postponed" after it was contacted by Valve. Valve spokesperson Kaci Aitchison Boyle has now issued a statement (via The Verge), confirming Valve originally reached out to Nintendo: Given...
News Sonic Co-Creator Yuji Naka Could Face Over Two Years In Prison
Veteran developer admitted to insider trading
Former Sega and Square Enix developer Yuji Naka could face a prison term of two years and six months in relation to the insider trading trial held in Tokyo, Japan, as reported by denfaminicogamer (thanks, Time Extension). In addition, Naka may be fined 2.5 million JPY along with a surcharge
News Dolphin Emulator Steam Release "Indefinitely Postponed"
Update: Nintendo responds with statement
Update #3 [Sat 3rd Jun, 2023 01:35 BST]: Valve spokesperson Kaci Aitchison Boyle has now issued a statement (via The Verge), noting how Valve was the one to inform Nintendo: Given Nintendo’s history of taking action against some emulators, we brought this to their attention proactively after the Dolphin...
News Mario Kart Tour Lawsuit Calls Out "Immoral" Lootbox Gacha System
The pipe has backfired
At the end of last year, Nintendo removed the gacha elements from its mobile racing game, Mario Kart Tour. It replaced this system where players would "fire" a pipe to receive a random item with a 'Spotlight Shop'. Although the item system has already been updated, Axios reports a young gamer (with approval from his father)...
News Switch Android Emulator Skyline Halts Development Due To "Potential Legal Risks"
Nintendo apparently issues DMCA takedown for Lockpick
The developers behind the popular Switch Android emulator Skyline have announced the open-source project is no longer in active development. According to a post shared on the Skyline Discord, the team apparently received a DMCA takedown notice from Nintendo. The catch here is the takedown is...
News Nintendo Hacker Gary Bowser Has Been Released From Prison
But he still has to pay $10 million in damages
Remember the Nintendo hacker Gary Bowser? In a development last February, it was revealed he had been jailed for over three years and fined close to $15 million for his involvement in Team Xecutor - a business that allowed Switch owners to hack their systems and play pirated games. In an update, the...
News Nintendo Of Europe "Has Decided To Wind Down Operations" In Russia
Update: Will "maintain a minimal presence" in the country
Update [Fri 14th Apr, 2023 11:45 BST]: Nintendo of Europe has provided a statement to Eurogamer saying that following its suspension of the eShop and officially shipping products to Russia in 2022, it "has decided to wind down operations of its Russian subsidiary". Noting the current...
News Yuji Naka Appears To Admit Guilt Over Insider Trading Case
Trial now in session at Tokyo District Court
Yuki Naka, the former head of Sonic Team, is now standing trial at the Tokyo District Court over charges of insider trading after an investigation at Square Enix. The creator had allegedly invested in development companies based on information gained prior to it being made publically available, thus...
News Arrest Made In Japan After Nintendo Executive Receives Death Threats
"Die Nintendo!"
Video game companies have to deal with a lot of things behind the scenes, and one story that's recently come to light isn't pleasant at all. According to a translation by Nintendo Everything, Japanese media outlet Kyoto Shimbun reports the arrest of a "36-year-old female permatemp on suspicion of intimidation" on 9th February 2023...
News Nintendo Wins "Switch Joy-Con Drift" Class Action Lawsuit
Drift? What drift?
Remember a story we ran about some parents in the US who were trying to get their kids to sue Nintendo over "Joy-Con drift" in a class action lawsuit? Well, it seems the video game giant has come out on top. In November last year, a federal judge ruled in favour of Nintendo in the 'Sanchez et. al. v. Nintendo of America' case...
News Yuji Naka Has Now Been Formally Indicted Over Insider Trading Offenses
Developer was previously arrested twice
Update [Wed 28th Dec, 2022 12:15 GMT]: Following on from the arrests of Sonic co-creator Yuji Naka and former Square Enix employee Taisuke Sazaki, the two have now been formally indicted over alleged insider trading offenses. As reported by NHK (thanks, VGC), the two were charged for conducting insider...
News Cooking Mama IP Holder Sues Planet Entertainment For Sale Of Cooking Mama: Cookstar
Mama is not happy!
Remember the ongoing dispute between Cooking Mama: Cookstar publisher Planet Entertainment and the series' rights holder Office Create dating back to 2020? Well, in an update, Planet has now been sued by Office Create. There was actually a fallout between the two parties before the game's release in 2020, but Planet Entertainment...
News UK Government Warns It "Will Not Hesitate To Consider Legislation" Against Loot Boxes
"Video games companies and platforms must do more"
Loot boxes have long been a contentious topic of conversation in the gaming industry, and the UK government has warned companies that restrictive legislation may be enforced in the future if the culture surrounding these purchases doesn't change. The Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport...
News Nintendo Is Suing The Fashion Retailer That Used To Run Its Russian Store
"World of Nintendo" turned from prime e-store to landing page
Nintendo’s Russian branch has filed a claim to the Moscow Court of Arbitration against KupiVip, a retailer which operated Nintendo’s now-defunct flagship online store in the country. The company submitted claims totalling around 963,500 rubles (approx. $16,800), according to the...
News "What Do I Care?" - Nintendo Hacking Mastermind Defiant As Colleague Bowser Is Jailed
Max Louarn remains unapologetic
In the wake of Nintendo hacker Gary Bowser being sentenced to three years in jail for his contribution to Team Xecuter's hacking efforts, the mastermind behind the whole operation remains seemingly defiant and unapologetic. Max Louarn, alleged leader of Team Xecuter, has a long history with hacking and apparently...
News Nintendo Admits It Released A New Model Of The Switch To Fight Piracy
A "direct result" of hackers "attacking... technological protection measures"
Last year, Nintendo was successful in securing a jail term for Team Xecutor member Gary Bowser, who was accused of causing the Japanese company to lose millions of dollars via the piracy-enabling devices and software he sold. Court documents are now available which fill...
News Gary Bowser Jail Term Intended To "Send A Message" To Other Switch Hackers
"This is a very significant moment for us"
Team Xecutor member Gary Bowser was recently jailed for three years and fined almost $15 million for his part in a business which enabled Switch owners to hack their systems and play pirated games, and recently-unearthed court documents – dug up by Axios (thanks,
News Now Parents Are Getting Their Kids To Sue Nintendo Over Joy-Con Drift
Lawyer, leave those kids alone?
Another class-action lawsuit against Nintendo over Joy-Con drift is being proposed in North America, but this case hinges on the question of whether or not two kids can sue the Japanese giant. Lawyers for families suing Nintendo in the case 'Sanchez et. al. v. Nintendo of America' claim that an arbitrator has ruled...
News Activision Blizzard Hit With New Harassment And Discrimination Lawsuit
"700 reported incidents occurring under CEO Robert Kotick’s watch"
Activision Blizzard has been hit with a fresh lawsuit that claims the company's "frat boy" environment has allowed 700 reported incidents of sexual harassment and discrimination. The suit has been filed by Attorney Lisa Bloom in the Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of a...
