Japanese authorities have made a landmark arrest in the fight against video game piracy. For the first time, a suspect has been apprehended for modifying Nintendo Switch consoles to play pirated games.
According to NTV News, a 58-year-old man was taken into custody on January 15th, accused of violating Japan's Trademark Act. The individual allegedly altered used Switch consoles by soldering modified components onto the circuit boards, enabling them to run illegally copied games. Authorities claim he pre-loaded 27 pirated titles onto each modified console before selling them for approximately ¥28,000 ($180 USD) apiece. The suspect has reportedly confessed to the charges, and investigations are ongoing to determine if further offenses occurred.
This arrest highlights the escalating battle against video game piracy. Nintendo, a frequent target of piracy, has actively pursued legal action against various offenders. A notable example includes the takedown of the Yuzu Switch emulator in 2024, following a takedown request targeting 8,500 copies. Nintendo's initial lawsuit against Yuzu's creator, Tropic Haze, cited the unauthorized distribution of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, alleging over one million pirated copies before its official release.
The legal landscape surrounding video game piracy is evolving. Past successes include substantial damage awards against RomUniverse, a game ROM sharing site, totaling over $14 million in separate rulings in 2018 and 2021. Nintendo also successfully blocked the Dolphin GameCube and Wii emulator from appearing on Steam.
Recently, Koji Nishiura, Assistant Manager of Nintendo's Intellectual Property Division, shed light on the company's strategy concerning emulation and piracy. While acknowledging the ambiguous legality of emulators themselves, he emphasized that their use for piracy renders them illegal. This arrest underscores Nintendo's and other companies' continued efforts to combat the illegal distribution and use of their intellectual property.
