Legal And Gaming News

US Court Awards Nintendo $4.5M in Default Judgment Against Former Reddit Moderator

A US federal court has awarded Nintendo of America $4.5 million in damages against James Williams, a former moderator of the r/SwitchPirates subreddit. The default judgment stems from Williams' failure to respond to a lawsuit filed in June 2024. The court ordered Williams to immediately shut down online 'pirate shops' and issued a permanent injunction barring him from distributing any pirated Nintendo games. Nintendo sought $150,000 for each of 30 alleged infringements, including titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. The judge noted that Williams' inaction, despite hiring a lawyer for a separate subpoena, supported the maximum damages award. This ruling follows Nintendo's broader legal efforts against piracy, including previous cases against Gary Bowser and the Yuzu emulator.