Home
Technology
Gaming
Entertainment
World & Business
Science
Sports
AI

World & Business

Home
Technology
Gaming
Entertainment
World & Business
Science
Sports
AI

Nintendo wins $4.5 million default judgment in Switch piracy case · Digg

Report

Nintendo wins $4.5 million default judgment in Switch piracy case

The federal court also ordered James Williams to disable the online shops and accounts covered by the permanent injunction.

TLDR

A federal judge awarded Nintendo $4.5 million and a permanent injunction against James “archbox” Williams in a Switch piracy lawsuit. The result is a default judgment, meaning Williams did not appear to defend the case rather than losing after a contested trial. The award equals $150,000 for each of 30 Nintendo games. The order also requires him to disable access to online shops and social accounts the court found were used to distribute pirated games and circumvention software.

Combined views

509.2K

15 Sources, first seen 20d ago

Combined views

509.2K

15 Sources, first seen 20d ago

3.5K likes

Bowser holds a glowing Super Star in Nintendo promotional artwork.

20d ago

first seen 20d ago

3.5K likes

109 comments

350 saves

176 reposts

109 comments

350 saves

176 reposts

A federal judge has awarded Nintendo of America $4.5 million in its copyright and anti-circumvention case against James Williams, known online as “archbox.” The September 23 order also grants a permanent injunction requiring Williams to shut down the online shops and related accounts covered by the case.

Featured Source

The result is a default judgment, not a verdict reached after a contested trial. Williams did not appear to defend the lawsuit, according to the court record, and Nintendo asked the court to enter judgment without his participation.

That distinction matters because the underlying account of the operation began as Nintendo's allegations. In its June 2024 complaint, the company accused Williams of helping run online “Pirate Shops” that distributed Nintendo Switch game files, soliciting eShop gift cards and game copies to expand those libraries, and promoting the services and circumvention tools through the r/SwitchPirates community.

Sentiment

Positive13.5%86.5%Negative

Today's Rank

—

Not ranked yet

Today's Rank

—

Not ranked yet

How the court reached $4.5 million

In granting Nintendo's motion, US District Judge Lauren King wrote that the company had demonstrated Williams promoted shops offering pirated game files and circumvention software, encouraged people to contribute games and helped others distribute Switch titles despite knowing that the activity violated copyright law, The Verge reports.

The damages equal the maximum $150,000 statutory award for each of 30 copyrighted games identified in the case. The list includes Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Luigi's Mansion 3 and Pikmin 4.

The permanent injunction extends beyond the money. Williams must immediately disable access to the online shops the order says he operated or controlled, and he must close social-media accounts used to distribute copyrighted Switch games.

Nintendo filed the lawsuit in 2024 and pursued a default after Williams failed to answer. The company had previously argued that $4.5 million was modest compared with the total damages it could have sought. That “nowhere near” language described Nintendo's earlier request to the court; it was not a new claim that the judgment itself exceeded or fell short of a separate award.

Summary

Many accounts welcomed Nintendo's $4.5 million lawsuit win against a Reddit mod for distributing pirated Switch games as justice served, while negative replies called the company greedy for targeting small players instead of bigger threats.

Based on 115 sentiment-bearing replies from 99 accounts across 8 conversations.

15 Sources

@GamesRadarSwitch pirate ordered to pay Nintendo $4.5 million, which the company says is "nowhere near" enough https://www.gamesradar.com/games/switch-pirate-ordered-to-pay-nintendo-usd4-5-million-which-the-company-believes-is-nowhere-near-enough/20d

@PolygonReddit Moderator Has to Pay Nintendo $4.5M After Lawsuit https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-reddit-moderator-lawsuit-damages-archbox-sept-2026/?taid=6ab5814d3a03d10001617b1a&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter20d

@KotakuYou cannot play in Nintendo's face like that https://kotaku.com/moderator-of-switch-pirates-subreddit-to-pay-nintendo-4-5-million-in-piracy-lawsuit-200073707920d

@engadgetgamingIt's easy to win when the defendant is a no-show. https://www.engadget.com/2268376/nintendo-wins-4-5-million-from-lawsuit-over-pirated-switch-games/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=Echobox-FP-EngadgetGaming&utm_medium=Social-Distribution&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=179028582020d

@GIBizNintendo of America has won $4.5 million in damages from Reddit user James C. Williams, also known as 'Archbox,' for copyright violations https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nintendo-of-america-awarded-45m-in-lawsuit-from-redditor-for-pirating-switch-hardware-and-software20d

@VGC_NewsNintendo has successfully won $4.5 million in damages from a Reddit moderator who copied and distributed "hundreds, or thousands" of pirated Switch games. https://vgc.news/news/court-orders-reddit-moderator-who-widely-pirated-switch-games-to-pay-nintendo-4-5-million-in-damages/19d

@nintendolifeReddit Mod Ordered To Cough Up $4,500,000 To Nintendo In Long-Running Switch Piracy Case https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/09/reddit-mod-ordered-to-cough-up-usd4500000-to-nintendo-in-long-running-switch-piracy-case19d

@DexertoNintendo has won a lawsuit against a Reddit mod over pirated Switch games James Williams, known as Archbox, has been ordered to pay $4.5 million and shut down any 'pirate shops' he controls19d

@GameSpotSwitch Pirate Ignored Nintendo’s Lawsuit, Now He Owes $4.5 Million https://dlvr.it/TVf9HM19d

@IGNNintendo has finally won its long-running lawsuit against a reddit moderator who sold pirated Switch games, and been awarded $4.5 million in damages. https://bit.ly/4y9QAG019d

Sentiment

Positive13.5%86.5%Negative

Summary

Many accounts welcomed Nintendo's $4.5 million lawsuit win against a Reddit mod for distributing pirated Switch games as justice served, while negative replies called the company greedy for targeting small players instead of bigger threats.

Based on 115 sentiment-bearing replies from 99 accounts across 8 conversations.

15 Sources

@GamesRadarSwitch pirate ordered to pay Nintendo $4.5 million, which the company says is "nowhere near" enough https://www.gamesradar.com/games/switch-pirate-ordered-to-pay-nintendo-usd4-5-million-which-the-company-believes-is-nowhere-near-enough/20d

@PolygonReddit Moderator Has to Pay Nintendo $4.5M After Lawsuit https://www.polygon.com/nintendo-reddit-moderator-lawsuit-damages-archbox-sept-2026/?taid=6ab5814d3a03d10001617b1a&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter20d

@KotakuYou cannot play in Nintendo's face like that https://kotaku.com/moderator-of-switch-pirates-subreddit-to-pay-nintendo-4-5-million-in-piracy-lawsuit-200073707920d

@engadgetgamingIt's easy to win when the defendant is a no-show. https://www.engadget.com/2268376/nintendo-wins-4-5-million-from-lawsuit-over-pirated-switch-games/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_campaign=Echobox-FP-EngadgetGaming&utm_medium=Social-Distribution&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=179028582020d

@GIBizNintendo of America has won $4.5 million in damages from Reddit user James C. Williams, also known as 'Archbox,' for copyright violations https://www.gamesindustry.biz/nintendo-of-america-awarded-45m-in-lawsuit-from-redditor-for-pirating-switch-hardware-and-software20d

@VGC_NewsNintendo has successfully won $4.5 million in damages from a Reddit moderator who copied and distributed "hundreds, or thousands" of pirated Switch games. https://vgc.news/news/court-orders-reddit-moderator-who-widely-pirated-switch-games-to-pay-nintendo-4-5-million-in-damages/19d

@nintendolifeReddit Mod Ordered To Cough Up $4,500,000 To Nintendo In Long-Running Switch Piracy Case https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2026/09/reddit-mod-ordered-to-cough-up-usd4500000-to-nintendo-in-long-running-switch-piracy-case19d

@DexertoNintendo has won a lawsuit against a Reddit mod over pirated Switch games James Williams, known as Archbox, has been ordered to pay $4.5 million and shut down any 'pirate shops' he controls19d

@GameSpotSwitch Pirate Ignored Nintendo’s Lawsuit, Now He Owes $4.5 Million https://dlvr.it/TVf9HM19d

@IGNNintendo has finally won its long-running lawsuit against a reddit moderator who sold pirated Switch games, and been awarded $4.5 million in damages. https://bit.ly/4y9QAG019d

Related

New Ocarina of Time Remake trailer and previews showcase a rebuilt Hyrule

Nintendo’s new trailer accompanies hands-on previews from The Verge, Engadget and Game Informer ahead of the November 5 launch.

Nintendo will continue supporting physical game releases

Polygon reports that a Nintendo executive confirmed the company's plans for physical games.

Majora’s Mask icon elements reportedly available through Nintendo Switch Online

A user says the icon elements can be redeemed with Platinum Points on Switch 2 and Switch.