US Judge Orders Former Reddit Mod to Pay Nintendo $4.5M for Switch Piracy

Key points

• US District Judge Lauren King issued a default judgment on September 24, 2026, awarding Nintendo $4.5 million in damages against James Williams.
• The court ordered Williams to immediately disable access to all online 'shops' he operated or controlled that offered pirated Nintendo Switch games.
• Nintendo sued Williams in June 2024, alleging he was a 'leading moderator' of the r/SwitchPirates community and solicited 'donations' of eShop gift cards and game copies.
• The $4.5 million award reflects $150,000 per violation across 30 copyrighted games, including Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Luigi's Mansion 3, and Pikmin 4.
• Williams did not respond to the lawsuit or cease-and-desist notices, resulting in the default judgment.
• Nintendo tracked Williams down via Reddit and linked him to a Nintendo account that had filed for hardware repairs, which provided his address.

Background

This ruling is part of a broader pattern of Nintendo pursuing legal action against piracy. In September 2026, a Dutch court ruled it illegal to sell modding kits that allow players to download and play pirated games. Nintendo has also filed other copyright lawsuits in recent years, including a patent infringement case against Pocketpair in 2024. The company has been actively targeting illegal European Nintendo Switch game and hardware digital storefronts.

How outlets are covering it

The Verge and Aftermath both report on the default judgment and the $4.5 million award, emphasizing that Williams did not respond to the lawsuit. The Verge notes that this is another legal victory for Nintendo, which has filed a flurry of copyright lawsuits over the past several years. Aftermath provides additional details on how Nintendo tracked Williams down via Reddit and linked him to a Nintendo account that had filed for hardware repairs. GoNintendo highlights that Nintendo believes the $4.5 million award is 'nowhere near' enough, given the scale of the piracy. GamesRadar+ also reports on the default judgment and the order to shut down the online stores.

Why it matters

This case underscores Nintendo's aggressive stance against piracy and its willingness to pursue legal action against individuals who distribute pirated games. The default judgment and the order to shut down the online stores send a strong message to the piracy community. It also highlights the challenges of enforcing copyright laws in the digital age, particularly when it comes to online communities and platforms like Reddit.

What to watch

It is unclear what will happen next, as Williams did not respond to the lawsuit. It is possible that he may appeal the decision or seek to negotiate a settlement. Nintendo may also continue to pursue other individuals and entities involved in piracy. The case may also have implications for other online communities and platforms that host or facilitate piracy.