Tag: Legal
U.S. Patent Office orders reexamination of Nintendo patent
Nintendo faces another setback in its legal battle against Pocketpair and Palworld. As reported by Games Fray (thanks,
News Nintendo Wins Lawsuit Against 'Pirate' Streamer Who Taunted Company Online
Ordered to pay $17,500 in damages
A year after filing a lawsuit against streamer 'EveryGameGuru' (real name Jesse Keighin) who "repeatedly streamed pirated and emulated" Switch games and bragged about it on social media, Nintendo has finally secured a final settlement, via TorrentFreak. A Colorado Federal court has ordered (as per the
News Nintendo's Pokémon Catching-Related Patent Has Been Rejected In Japan
Refused as it lacks an 'Inventive step'
Nintendo has been dealt a bit of a legal blow in Japan as the Patent Office has rejected an application relevant to the company's ongoing case against Pocketpair's Palworld. This patent is related to monster catching à la Pokémon, but it's not quite the same one filed in the US reported on back in September...
News Nintendo's Trademarking 'Virtual Console' Again, But Don't Get Your Hopes Up
Virtual dreams
It's time to talk trademarks again, as Nintendo of America has had a new filing for 'Virtual Console' bumped up to the pending phase. But let's be clear right from the jump, it probably doesn't mean what you're thinking. As brought to our attention by @MikeOdysseyYT on X, the trademark was initially submitted on 21st April 2025, and...
News Nintendo Responds To Reported 'Crimson Collective' Hack With Official Statement
No sensitive data appears to have been compromised
Last week, the hacking group Crimson Collective claimed it had breached Nintendo. At the time, there was no official response from the video game giant. Now, in an update, Nintendo has shared a statement with The Sankei Shimbun, and it appears to suggest there's been no personal, development, or...
News Notorious Group 'Crimson Collective' Claims To Have Hacked Nintendo
Though its legitimacy is unproven
Nintendo is known to be extremely litigious when it comes to protecting its intellectual property, but the company may have quite the battle on its hands if recent claims are proven to be legitimate. Hacking group Crimson Collective has claimed to have breached Nintendo in what may be one of the most high-profile...
News Nintendo's Out To Get $4,500,000 In Damages From Ongoing Switch Piracy Case
Update: The 'Archbox' case continues
Back in July, Nintendo dished out a handful of lawsuits in its continued clampdown on Switch piracy. Four months on, one of these legal claims has come back as another win for Nintendo after the defendant failed to plead or otherwise respond within the court's given time. The case in question was against James...
News "OpenAI Is Trying To Get Sued" - Nintendo IP Floods Sora 2 Video Generation App
"You can make a Pokémon cooking tutorial with just one prompt"
OpenAI recently released its dedicated Sora App, which is being pitched as a rival to TikTok and Instagram, with the key difference being that all the videos are generated via the Sora 2 video generation model. As is the case with many of these Generative AI tools, Sora 2 has been...
News Sonic Adventure 2 'Live And Learn' Lawsuit Dismissed, Crush 40 Musician Issues Statement
The song remains in "limbo"
You might recall how there's been some drama over the popular Sonic Adventure 2 track 'Live and Learn'. Crush 40 musician and singer Johnny Gioeli filed a lawsuit against Sega last December, claiming he had not been correctly compensated over the past 23 years. In an update, new court documents have confirmed the case...
News Pokémon's Former Chief Legal Officer Believes Nintendo's Latest Patent Will Be Ignored
"decades of prior art" may give developers the upper hand
Nintendo's recent legal activity has caused quite the commotion online. One patent application relating to the summoning of a so-called 'sub character' has proven particularly controversial following its swift approval, with the broad nature of its contents having potentially wide...
News Nintendo's Patent On 'Sub Characters' Could Have Some Dire Ramifications
Yet it was granted without concern
Nintendo, in its ongoing battle against Pocketpair and Palworld, has been filing various patents left, right, and centre in the US, the latest of which is almost certainly cause for concern. As detailed by Games Fray, Patent
News Nintendo And Accessory Maker Genki Reach Settlement In Switch 2 Lawsuit
Genki advertised its products well before the official reveal
At the start of the year, as the hype around Switch 2 was beginning to reach fever pitch, accessory manufacturer Genki began to prematurely advertise its products for the then-upcoming console. Perhaps most notably, it showcased 3D-printed mockups of the Switch 2 during CES 2025 before...
News Nintendo Wins $2 Million Lawsuit Against 'MiG Switch' Distributor
"Defendant’s conduct has caused NOA significant and irreparable harm"
Nintendo has won yet another lawsuit in its ongoing battle against piracy on the Switch and Switch 2, this time against 'MiG Switch' distributor Ryan Daly and the Modded Hardware website. Updated on 5th September 2025, the court document confirms that Daly is required to pay...
Mari no cart
Japan's largest speedrunning event, RTA, is set to kick off later this week on 9th August, and will see some of the speediest gamers in the biz ploughing through the likes of Cuphead, Nier: Automata and Skyrim, all in aid of Doctors Without Borders. We learnt a few months ago that Nintendo games would not be included in the lineup, and...
News FBI Shares Official Statement After Seizure Of Major Switch ROM Site
Cracking down on piracy
Earlier this week, a major Switch ROM site known as 'nsw2u' was seized by the FBI as part of a 'law enforcement operation'. Now, we've got an official statement from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, highlighting the other sites seized. Here it is in full (via the official FBI website): FBI Atlanta Seizes Major Video...
News "It Will Have A Chilling Effect On Game Design" - EU Group Responds To 'Stop Killing Games'
Lobbying group includes Nintendo, Sega, and more in its membership
Over the last couple of weeks or so, an online consumer movement has been doing the rounds that challenges the legality of publishers "destroying" video games sold to customers by revoking access following the cessation of online support. Dubbed 'Stop Killing Games', it consists of...
News Nintendo's Ability To Ban Switch 2 Consoles Has Landed It In Hot Water
Just another day for The Big N
Nintendo's ability to essentially 'brick' Switch 2 consoles has landed it a legal challenge from Brazil's consumer rights watchdog (thanks, IGN). Reports began to emerge recently which indicated that Switch 2 consoles in use with the MiG carts could be outright banned by Nintendo, restricting access to all online...
News Nintendo Reportedly Banning Switch 2's Using MIG Cartridges
A recent firmware update made the carts compatible
Nintendo cracked down on piracy in all sorts of ways during the Switch generation and it's now reportedly taking action on the Switch 2. As highlighted by Kotaku, Nintendo is seemingly banning anyone found using the MIG Switch cartridge on its new hybrid system. This flash cartridge (which allows...
News Nintendo Updates Its User Agreement To Crack Down On Emulation
Offenders may find their Switch bricked
Nintendo has recently updated its Account User Agreement to provide a more severe warning to those who "bypass, modify, decrypt, defeat" or "tamper with" their games. In short, if you happen to hack your Switch or run emulators, you may find that it winds up getting bricked entirely. This comes via Stephen...
News Palworld Dev Announces "Disappointing" Game Changes Resulting From Nintendo's Lawsuit
"We have had to make certain compromises"
Late last year, Palworld developer Pocketpair announced that it was scrapping the Poké Ball-like summoning mechanic from its game as a result of its ongoing Nintendo lawsuit. Well, it looks like the changes aren't stopping there, as the dev has today announced that more "disappointing" changes are yet to...
News Accessory Manufacturer Genki Responds To Nintendo's Switch 2 Lawsuit
Focus remains on "building gear for gamers"
Last weekend, Nintendo formally opened a lawsuit against accessory manufacturer Genki following the Switch 2 "leak" at this year's CES. We saw Nintendo's side of the story in the initial court documents, and now, Genki has released a statement confirming that the team is "taking it seriously and working...
News Nintendo Seeks Injunction And $17,500 In Damages From 'Pirate' Streamer
Defendant has so far evaded complaints
Back in November 2024, we covered a case in which Nintendo of America had filed a lawsuit against an individual who had "repeatedly streamed pirated and emulated" Switch games while also using social media to promote Switch emulators to the general public. Now, after defendant Jesse Keighin – known under the...
News What's Palworld Dev's Defence Against Nintendo's Lawsuit? Pikmin 3, Apparently
Amongst other games, of course
Palworld dev Pocketpair is currently locked in a legal battle with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company over alleged patent infringement. Now, as detailed by Games Fray (thanks, VGC), we have a vague idea of how Pocketpair might be looking to
News Japan's First Switch Modder Court Ruling Ends With A Fraction Of Nintendo's Full Wrath
It's fine time
It's not unusual to see Nintendo track down anyone who messes with its products — be that through mods, emulation, or copyright issues — but the outcome of a recent Japanese court ruling feels like a comparative slapped wrist when compared to some of the wrath we've seen from The House of Mario in the past (thanks for the heads...
News Inside Dev Threatens Legal Action Against Studio Co-Founder As "Bullying" Allegations Arise
"I will not stop being who I am"
Playdead, the studio behind indie hits Limbo and Inside, has demanded compensation and reimbursement from studio co-founder Dino Patti on claims of copyright infringement — an act that Patti describes as "bullying" from fellow co-founder Arnt Jensen (thanks for the heads up, Game Developer). The pair split shortly...
News Nintendo Awarded $7 Million In Win Against Counterfeit amiibo Sellers
Waahahaha!
As you might recall, Nintendo and Amazon filed a lawsuit against sellers of alleged fake products including counterfeit amiibo. In an update, Nintendo has officially won - with Seattle district judge Marsha J. Pechman awarding the video game giant approximately $7,030,158 million as a default judgment against the two sellers (thanks,...
News Nintendo's Lawsuit Win Against Major French Sharehoster Is Now Final
"Nintendo is pleased with the Court’s finding"
Nintendo has announced that the French judiciary Court has ruled that DSTORAGE SAS, who operates the sharehoster website '1fichier', is liable for failing to remove or block pirated games from the platform. Although the Paris Court of Appeals had previously ruled in favour of Nintendo in 2023, this...
News The Pokémon Company Catches A Win In Lawsuit Against Another Rip-Off App
Watch out, Palworld
While the Palworld case continues to tick away in the background, The Pokémon Company has recently won another lawsuit against a Chinese mobile app on the grounds of copyright infringement and acts of unfair competition (thanks, Eurogamer). TPC's case against 'Pocket Monster: Remake' (or, sometimes, 'Pocket Monster:...
News Nintendo's Palworld Lawsuit Might Go International As New Patents Land U.S. Approval
Update: Attorney weighs in on Nintendo's mostly-rejected patent
We have been following Nintendo's Palworld lawsuit for the best part of six months now, and while we have grown to have a better understanding of the particular patents involved, all of the infringement claims have been tied to Japan. However, in recent months, it seems that Nintendo...
Random Local Supermarket Wins Trademark Battle Against Nintendo
It didn't expect to beat "such a commercial monster"
Nintendo has legally pursued all sorts of companies and projects over the years, and it often gets its desired outcome. However, it's not gone the same way in a recent trademark battle against a family-owned Costa Rican "super" market. 'Super Mario', which is located in San Ramón (and does not...
News Nintendo Lawyer Breaks Down What Makes An Emulator Illegal
Emulation explanation
2024 was a big year for Nintendo's emulator takedowns, with the likes of Yuzu and Ryujinx both biting the dust after facing the company's wrath. Now, at a recent lecture hosted by Japan’s Association of Copyright for Computer Software, Nintendo lawyer Koji Nishiura has explained the technicalities of when an emulator is...
News Square Enix May Withhold Its Own Products If You Harrass Its Staff
So just don't, y'know?
Square Enix has updated its 'Group Customer Harrassment Policy' to ensure that its employees and partners remain protected against unwelcome nuisance and threats from certain customers. As detailed on its official website (thanks, GamesIndustry), the firm stated that if it deems an individual has indeed harassed its...
News Crush 40 Musician Is Suing Sega Over Sonic Adventure 2 Theme, 'Live And Learn'
Never too late, eh?
Johnny Gioeli, the Crush 40 musician and singer behind the iconic Sonic Adventure 2 track 'Live and Learn', is suing SEGA of America over breach of contract for the song's repeated use throughout the Sonic series (thanks, Polygon). According to Gioeli's lawsuit (via Polygon), filed to the District Court of S
News Palworld Developer Pocketpair Changes Pokémon-Like Summoning Mechanic
Nintendo's lawsuit claims it "infringes multiple patent rights"
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the Palworld developer Pocketpair in September of this year. In a notable development, Pocketpair has now released an update for Palworld which changes the Pokémon-like throwing mechanic in the game. As...
News Nintendo Reportedly Seeking "New Targets" In Switch Piracy Investigation
Sailing the high seas
Following Nintendo's recent investigation into the Switch "pirate" James 'Archbox' Williams, the video game giant is now reportedly seeking "new targets". As highlighted by Stephen Totilo of Game File, the company doesn't appear to be done with the SwitchPirates subreddit just yet: "Nintendo of America (NOA) said its...
News Palworld Dev May Have Found An Unexpected Ally In Nintendo's Lawsuit: An Old GTA 5 Mod
Trevorlution
Earlier this month, Palworld developer PocketPair detailed the patent infringement claims that make up Nintendo's ongoing lawsuit. The case itself is still underway, with both parties building their arguments, but a new prediction from a Japanese patent attorney suggests that PocketPair may be finding support in the most unlikely of...
News New Switch Emulator Devs Are Jumping Through Hoops To Avoid A Nintendo Takedown
Ninjas in 3... 2... 1...
Earlier this year, the Switch emulator Yuzu was shut down after being caught in the fiery gaze of the great eye of Nintendo. A follow-up based on the same source code, Suyu, appeared shortly after, though it unsurprisingly met the same fate. Now, over eight months on, there's another new kid on the block (thanks,
News Nintendo Has Seemingly Taken Possession Of The Ryujinx Switch Emulator Website
After being taken offline last month
Last month, Switch emulator Ryujinx was forced offline after Nintendo contacted its owner to arrange its removal. While there were rumblings that the emulator might not be completely dead a few weeks back, it seems that Nintendo has now taken official ownership of the website, presumably to stop anything from...
News Nintendo's Lawsuit Against Palworld Is "A Clear Case Of Bullying", Says Analyst
The drama continues
Patent analyst Florian Mueller has released an extensive examination into the lawsuit filed against Palworld developer Pocketpair from Nintendo. In it, he describes Nintendo's actions as "a clear case of bullying" against Pocketpair, citing the former's status as a "far older and larger company" with "extensive experience in...
“On at least fifty occasions in the last two years"
Nintendo has filed a lawsuit against an individual who apparently "repeatedly streamed pirated and emulated" Switch games while also promoting "Switch emulators and other piracy tools" to his audience. As highlighted by 404 Media, Jesse Keighin (known online as 'EveryGameGuru') reportedly "got...
News Palworld Developer Details Patent Infringement Claims From Nintendo's Lawsuit
Nintendo and TPC seek 10m Yen in damages
News on Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's lawsuit against Palworld developer Pocketpair had gone quiet over the past few weeks, but a new statement from the latter studio has shed some more light on the complaint — specifically, the patents Nintendo claims have been infringed upon and the prescribed fine...
News Switch Emulator Ryujinx Might Not Be Dead, Despite Nintendo's Takedown
We assume the ninjas are ready and waiting
Earlier this month, the creators of Switch emulator Ryujinx announced that the project would be taken offline after being "offered an agreement by Nintendo". Yet now, four weeks on, it looks like the open-source emulator might not be totally dead (thanks, Overkill). Over the weekend, a new update was...
News SEGA Seeks 1 Billion Yen In Damages From Developer Of Mobile RPG 'Memento Mori'
Allegations of patent infringement
Bank of Innovation — the Japanese developer behind the idle mobile RPG Memento Mori — has received a lawsuit from Sega Corporation, which seeks damages for multiple alleged patent infringements. As reported by Gamesindustry.biz (via the Otaku Research Institute), Sega — obviously most famous for Sonic the...
News Nintendo's Latest Job Listing Is On The Hunt For An Intellectual Property Lawyer
Objection!
Nintendo of America is on the lookout for a new intellectual property lawyer to join its legal department (thanks, My Nintendo News). The new job listing shared on Nintendo's career site states that the role will include managing Nintendo's "patent, trademark, and copyright portfolios," advising the business team on IP issues and working...
News Pour One Out For The Modchip Seller Facing Nintendo In Court Alone
Hounds, released
Back in July, Nintendo filed a lawsuit against Modded Hardware — an online store which, as you might expect, sells modded Switch consoles and chips — in its continued attempt to clamp down on piracy. Three months on, the alleged owner of the store, Ryan Daly, has filed his answer to the complaints where he denies any wrongdoing...
News Nintendo Patents Filed After Palworld's Release Suggest Lawsuit Prep Started Months Ago
Pika your battles
Last week, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company announced that they were filing a patent infringement lawsuit against Palworld developer Pocketpair. While the latter studio claimed it was "unaware of the specific patents we are accused of infringing upon," online speculation soon began to throw out various plausible-sounding submis
News Californian Law Dictates Storefronts Be Honest About Digital Game Ownership
A license to kill your purchase
A new Californian law will come into effect in 2025 that will effectively force digital storefronts to disclose that buyers don't actually own their digital puchases, but rather simply licensing the content. Naturally, we suspect that most of our audience will already be aware of this, but it's entirely possible that...
News Palworld's Japan Release On PS5 Delayed As Nintendo's Lawsuit Looms
Hold yer horses, pal
If you managed to catch Sony's latest State of Play broadcast, then you'll know that Pocketpair's Palworld has scored a shadow drop release on PS5. At least, in some countries, that is. Y'see, the game's launch has been indefinitely delayed in Japan. As detailed in a social media post from the Japanese Palworld account, its...
News Analyst Is Certain Nintendo Will Win Its Lawsuit Against Palworld Developer
"Nintendo took its time to really build the case"
While everyone is patiently awaiting news from Nintendo regarding its upcoming Switch successor, the company made another, undoubtedly more surprising, announcement. Months after Palworld's release, Nintendo has now filed a patent lawsuit against developer Pocketpair, claiming that Palworld...
News Palworld Developer Responds To Nintendo Lawsuit
"we will do our utmost for our fans"
Following the announcement of a patent lawsuit filed against Palworld developer Pocketpair from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, the former has now released a statement responding to the complaint. The lawsuit from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company mentions that Palworld "infringes multiple patent rights",...
