Nintendo continues with its internal war to stop at all costs any type of company or small business dedicated to monetizing all types of activity related to illegal software, hardware and distribution of Nintendo Switch ROMs. And the latest measures have been a series of lawsuits published in federal court in Washington that directly accuse an online store and a person who was in charge of moderating a Reddit subthread focused on Switch piracy.
Buy a pirated Switch
That's what they sell in Modded Hardware, an online store that sells and distributes modchips for Nintendo Switch and already modified consoles so that customers just have to turn on the console and play. This, according to Nintendo, causes very serious losses in its business, and they also point out that it violates copyright and the DMCA.
This lawsuit comes preceded by a first notice from Nintendo, and while Modded Hardware assured that it was going to cease its commercial activity, the absence of changes in the business has led Nintendo to officially file the lawsuit in court. The documentation points to the sale of hardware such as MIG Switch or specific mod chips that allow illegal copies of games to be played, although the most serious thing is that according to Nintendo, the service of sending a modified console included numerous pre-installed games.
A moderator also sued
But perhaps the most surprising thing is that the well-known Reddit user, Archbox, in charge of moderating the subthread r/SwitchPirates, has also received a complaint with the Nintendo seal. The reason behind the lawsuit seems to be in the relationship that ArchBox (James Williams) supposedly had with some stores, since according to Nintendo, the moderator was in charge of the distribution of pirated copies in many of them.
And in addition to offering links and distribution of pirated copies, he combined his work on Reddit to help users download illegal software and give instructions on installation and configuration. The worst thing about the complaint is that it includes screenshots of messages from Archbox where he clearly demonstrates that he is aware of the illegality of what he does and that "he was not willing to pay $50 for a game."
This is one of the first cases we see where Nintendo directly attacks a particular person and not an organization, so we will see how far the sentence goes if the case continues.
Source: TorrentFreak