Nintendo Secures $4.5M Lawsuit Win Against Reddit SwitchPirates Mod

Nintendo has secured a $4.5 million judgment in its lawsuit against James “Archbox” Williams, who was associated with the r/SwitchPirates subreddit. The case involved allegations that Williams operated and promoted websites offering pirated Nintendo Switch games.

The latest ruling came as a default judgment, meaning Williams did not respond to the lawsuit in court. Along with the financial damages, the court has ordered him to shut down websites under his control that distributed pirated Nintendo material.

Nintendo Wins $4.5 Million in SwitchPirates Case

Nintendo filed the lawsuit against Williams in June 2024. The company accused him of running several so-called “pirate shops” that offered large collections of unauthorized Nintendo Switch games.

Williams was also identified as a moderator of the r/SwitchPirates community. Nintendo alleged that he used the subreddit and other online platforms to promote the websites and help users access pirated games.

According to the court-related reports, Williams never answered the complaint. Nintendo later asked the court for a default judgment seeking $4.5 million in damages.

What Nintendo Alleged Against the Reddit Mod

Nintendo’s case was not simply about Williams being a moderator of a Reddit community.

The company alleged that he was involved in operating and promoting piracy websites. Nintendo also accused him of helping users with software used to bypass Switch security protections.

Court documents cited by reports also described allegations involving “donations” made through eShop gift cards in connection with access to certain services.

The allegations covered the distribution of copyrighted Nintendo Switch games as well as tools and instructions connected to circumventing the console’s protections.

Default Judgment Means There Was No Full Trial

One of the biggest points in the Nintendo lawsuit against Reddit mod is how the case ended.

The court issued a default judgment after Williams failed to respond to the lawsuit. Reports say he was aware of the case and had previously hired a lawyer to challenge a Google subpoena, but he did not file an answer to Nintendo’s complaint.

Because of that, the court granted Nintendo’s request for damages without the case proceeding through a full trial.

Court Orders Piracy Websites to Be Shut Down

The Nintendo Switch piracy lawsuit also resulted in a permanent injunction.

Williams has been ordered to stop distributing pirated Nintendo games and circumvention tools. The order also prevents him from encouraging others to use such material.

The court further ordered him to disable access to online shops under his control that offered extensive libraries of pirated Nintendo Switch games.

What Happens to the $4.5 Million?

Nintendo has been awarded $4.5 million in damages, but actually recovering the full amount is a separate issue.

Reports note that it remains unclear whether Nintendo will be able to collect the entire judgment from Williams. The court’s order establishes the amount owed, while recovering that money depends on the defendant’s financial situation and applicable enforcement procedures.

For Nintendo, the case adds another major legal action to its long-running efforts against Switch game piracy and the distribution of tools used to bypass console protections.

Nintendo’s Wider Fight Against Switch Piracy

Nintendo has repeatedly taken legal action against businesses and individuals involved in the distribution of unauthorized games and console modification services.

The SwitchPirates Reddit mod lawsuit is notable because the allegations involved both online promotion and websites that allegedly distributed pirated Switch games.

The latest judgment also shows that failing to respond to a copyright lawsuit can have major legal consequences. In this case, the court granted Nintendo the $4.5 million damages request through a default judgment.

FAQs

Who is James “Archbox” Williams?

James “Archbox” Williams is the person Nintendo sued over alleged involvement in Switch game piracy. He was associated with the r/SwitchPirates subreddit and was accused of operating and promoting piracy-related websites.

How much money does Nintendo receive from the lawsuit?

Nintendo was awarded $4.5 million in damages through the default judgment.

Why did Nintendo win by default?

The case ended with a default judgment because Williams did not respond to Nintendo’s lawsuit in court.

Did the court order the piracy websites to close?

Yes. The judgment includes an injunction requiring Williams to disable access to online shops under his control that offered pirated Nintendo Switch games.