Nintendo’s Ingenious Hunt: Reddit Posts Lead to Switch Pirate’s Downfall

Nintendo’s Ingenious Hunt: Reddit Posts Lead to Switch Pirate’s Downfall

How Nintendo Caught a Pirate

Nintendo cleverly tracked down a Switch pirate, James Williams (aka Archbox), by analyzing his online activity. A law firm investigating “freeshops” (online repositories for pirated games) linked Williams to his Reddit posts, including a 2015 comment praising a Midwestern University optometry clinic. This, combined with his use of the same email for Nintendo Switch repairs, allowed Nintendo to obtain his address.

The Fallout

After receiving a cease and desist letter, Williams initially cooperated but later disappeared, resulting in a default judgment against him. This follows Nintendo’s previous legal victories against Gary Bowser and the Yuzu emulator.

Another Nintendo Lawsuit

Nintendo also recently sued streamer Jesse Keighin for broadcasting ten unreleased pirated games, including The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Mario & Luigi: Brothership. Keighin reportedly boasted about having “a thousand burner accounts” and continued streaming despite copyright notices.

Nintendo’s Anti-Piracy Efforts

These cases highlight Nintendo’s aggressive approach to combating piracy, utilizing various methods to identify and prosecute individuals involved in the distribution and consumption of pirated Switch games. The use of online activity to trace individuals represents a novel and effective tactic in their fight against piracy.