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

Key points

• US District Judge granted Nintendo a $4.5 million (£3.4 million) default judgment against James Williams, known online as 'Archbox'.
• Williams failed to respond to the lawsuit filed in June 2024, leading to the default judgment.
• The court ordered Williams to immediately disable access to all online 'shops' he operated that distributed pirated Nintendo Switch games.
• A permanent injunction bars Williams from distributing any pirated Nintendo games or encouraging others to do so.
• Nintendo sought $150,000 for each of 30 alleged infringements, totaling $4.5 million, which the judge approved.
• The judge noted that Williams had hired a lawyer to object to a Google subpoena, indicating he was aware of the legal proceedings.

Background

Nintendo has been actively pursuing legal action against piracy, including previous cases against Gary Bowser and the Yuzu emulator. This case follows a pattern of Nintendo targeting individuals and platforms that distribute pirated games. The r/SwitchPirates subreddit remains active, but Williams is no longer listed as a moderator. Nintendo also filed a lawsuit against Modded Hardware in June 2026 for selling kits to mod Nintendo Switch consoles to play pirated games.

How outlets are covering it

Eurogamer emphasizes the judge's reasoning, noting that Williams' failure to respond, despite hiring a lawyer for a separate subpoena, supported the maximum damages award. Aftermath highlights the default judgment and the court's order for Williams to shut down his online shops. Engadget notes that Williams' inaction made the case easier for Nintendo's legal team. Yahoo's article focuses on the $150,000 per game calculation and the court's decision to award the full amount sought by Nintendo. All sources agree on the $4.5 million damages and the permanent injunction against Williams.

Why it matters

This ruling underscores Nintendo's aggressive legal strategy against piracy and sets a precedent for substantial damages in copyright infringement cases. The default judgment and permanent injunction serve as a deterrent for other individuals and platforms involved in distributing pirated games. The case also highlights the effectiveness of Nintendo's legal team in pursuing piracy cases, even when defendants fail to respond. The ruling may influence future legal actions against piracy and reinforce the importance of respecting copyright laws in the gaming industry.

What to watch

Nintendo may continue to pursue legal action against other individuals and platforms involved in piracy. The permanent injunction against Williams may lead to further legal actions if he violates the terms. The ruling may also influence other copyright infringement cases and set a precedent for substantial damages in similar cases. Nintendo may also continue to target piracy through legal and technical means, including lawsuits against modding kits and other circumvention devices.