The United States Department of Justice has shared some news regarding Team-Xecuter, which doesn't appear to be a good sign for the company. Gary Bowser, known on GBAtemp as garyopa, Max Louarn, and Yuanning Chen have all been arrested in Seattle, Washington. The US Government classifies these men as "leaders of one of the world's most notorious videogame piracy groups", and will be facing a federal indictment charge, for the selling of illegal hardware that facilitates piracy.

“These defendants lined their pockets by stealing and selling the work of other video-game developers – even going so far as to make customers pay a licensing fee to play stolen games,” said U.S. Attorney Brian Moran for the Western District of Washington. “This conduct doesn’t just harm billion dollar companies, it hijacks the hard work of individuals working to advance in the video-game industry.”

The FBI has also been involved, with each defendant to be charged under 11 felony counts, ranging from wire fraud, trafficking circumvention devices, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. One of the defendants, Louarn, has not yet been extradited, though Bowser has, where he was seen in the court hearing that took place today.

In September 2020, Louarn and Bowser were arrested abroad in connection with the charges in this case. The United States will seek Louarn’s extradition to stand trial in the United States. Bowser was arrested and deported from the Dominican Republic, and appeared today in federal court, in New Jersey.

Each defendant is charged with 11 felony counts, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to circumvent technological measures and to traffic in circumvention devices, trafficking in circumvention devices, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Source

 

[Zaiphon]

Bunch of whining babies on GBA celebrating a demise like this, only jut after ~1 month that the DOJ went after -SPARKS and literally obliterated the real scene, you guys say scene here scene there, when you are all a bunch of nobodies who never spoke with anyone relevant in any kind of scene but all you guys want to say now is fuck you SX OS because they sold licenses, meanwhile millions of pirates around the globe are worried about their future and if their CFW will still get updates... I won't be an asshole like most of u guys here and say that I want the same for Atmos devs.. because I don't and nobody should wish this for others without even knowing them.

You guys should be happy that theres no more TV/Movies/PC games hell the whole iso scene around like before, at least not if you're not a member of those top-tier and impossible to get in places...

Actually you are crying right now. How can i celebrate but be a whining baby?
What did SX do? They copy&paste Atmos code and up to 90% time they waited for Atmos updates to copy&paste them for their "god" tier OS.

You are just malding because you bought that and now you feel scammed and ripped off.

Im only sorry for the People who bought that dogshit. idk how even gbatemp allowed that on the platform in the firstplace @garyopa was posting updates and ads.

Imagine paying to get pirated games. Why not buy the games instead then?

Just a big pepelaugh at the two idiots that thought they can make the big bucks.

 

[Mark McDonut]

Doug Bowser Vs. Gary Bowser

now THIS is console wars.

 

[Asia81]

In france we say "I hear cheh in my oreilette"

 

[Spider_Man]

Yea right because everyone who has a Hacked Switch is a Pirate... aight mate.. *insert facepalm*
I'm using it to Play PSP Games, Using Cheats and to Backup my Savegames..

LMFAO

playing psp games on a switch is still PIRACY *insert facepalm*

 

[MikaDubbz]

LMFAO

playing psp games on a switch is still PIRACY *insert facepalm*

Don't you know?! As long as the system isn't current, emulation of it doesn't count as piracy, because reasons. /s

 

[britain4]

Not 100% sure about that, but can't you update the OS with the USB thingy? it should be included when you purchased the SX Core/Lite.

The chip firmware (optional USB update) and SX OS were separate, the chip looks for a signed copy of SXOS on the SD card.

If someone could crack whatever signing they used they could just make a Hekate boot.dat to go on there and panic over lol

 

[Jiehfeng]

So will these people stay arrested or will they get fined?

 

[Flying Scotsman]

but even with the license the ships do more than just enable backups
they enable hommebrew and the running of alternative OS's
this is no different than every other hard mod device that has been sold since beginning of the video game industry

They're pinning the license on XCI loading specifically. The homebrew aspect is taking a back seat according to Nintendo's indictment.

They're also targeting the mod chip as a purpose built "anti-piracy circumvention device" even though it has more features, that's what they're specifically spinning it as to the court. They did the same with the R4 cards in the UK for example.

 

[sudeki300]

so now the team x is out of the picture wonder about atmos now?

be a bit different as its the console that has the issue, theres no chip to install. cant arrest everyone with a paper clip. plus that ships sailed as there are only a certain number of units in the wild

 

[Brawl345]

Doug Bowser Vs. Gary Bowser

now THIS is console wars.

I want the keys to the kingdom back, Bowser. 😂 @thetruebowser @NintendoAmerica https://t.co/Ae7WHoFddH

— Reggie Fils-Aimé (@Reggie) October 3, 2020

 

[Tenny]

LMFAO

playing psp games on a switch is still PIRACY *insert facepalm*

might be illegal in the states but not in my country.
In my country it is allowed to Backup your games and play it on pc or whatever device you like.
so please inform yourself before posting such garbage.

So will these people stay arrested or will they get fined?

Depends in the end for what they are getting charged.

 

[Flying Scotsman]

So will these people stay arrested or will they get fined?

The US does not like wire fraud or copyright infringement related charges so expect at least some form of jail sentence related to copyright infringement.

Good luck getting Chen though. His court order is going to be thrown back and forth for months before it's finally thrown out.

 

[Spider_Man]

is there any truth to this, as id have assumed nintendo would have

might be illegal in the states but not in my country.
In my country it is allowed to Backup your games and play it on pc or whatever device you like.
so please inform yourself before posting such garbage.



Depends in the end for what they are getting charged.

yea sure "back up"problem is, making copies is illegal world wide and you also have that thing of modifying your console is also illegal.

dont be a wet towel coming here claiming you dont pirate, we all know thats chatting a load of bollocks.

 

[Flying Scotsman]

is there any truth to this, as id have assumed nintendo would have

yea sure "back up"problem is, making copies is illegal world wide and you also have that thing of modifying your console is also illegal.

dont be a wet towel coming here claiming you dont pirate, we all know thats chatting a load of bollocks.

While I'm not advocating piracy - there are countries where both (or either) are legal.

i.e backups are legal in Sweden. Music, Films and e-books backups are legal in the UK etc.

Modding your console is legal in Australia etc.

It really is country dependant.

 

[sudeki300]

The US does not like wire fraud or copyright infringement related charges so expect at least some form of jail sentence related to copyright infringement.

anything to do with $ being taken from the government is a big no no in the US, if they were smart they would have saved for such an event

 

[Deleted User]

Uh oh. I think I'm gonna need a guide to xfer off of SX OS within a few months, huh?

You can use your sx gear to boot up any cfw. I've got mine booting Atmosphere or ReiNX, I forget which.

 

[0x3000027E]

https://torrentfreak.com/images/louarn_et_al_indictment_0.pdf

EDIT: I would say start a Page 18. A lot of the top is just "what TX is"

Very interesting read, thanks for sharing

 

[Spider_Man]

While I'm not advocating piracy - there are countries where both (or either) are legal.

i.e backups are legal in Sweden. Music, Films and e-books backups are legal in the UK etc.

Modding your console is legal in Australia etc.

It really is country dependant.

modding consoles is violation of the console terms, which is why nintendo crack down on sx, as the device itself does not come with any roms, it like cfw, you have to obtain.

but we all know he hasnt made backups, problem you see all the time online, piraters pretending they dont pirate when we know this snowflake had downloaded his games.

but its funny, because even a back up is still pirating it.

i guess people can sugar coat shit all they like, theres no ifs or buts, it simply is what it is.

i dont get how their websites havent been forced to shut down.

 

[weatMod]

They're pinning the license on XCI loading specifically. The homebrew aspect is taking a back seat according to Nintendo's indictment.

They're also targeting the mod chip as a purpose built "anti-piracy circumvention device" even though it has more features, that's what they're specifically spinning it as to the court. They did the same with the R4 cards in the UK for example.

yes well they can spin it all they like but in the end the chip is necessary to accomplish the running of alternate OS's on mariko consoles , and they're the only game in town
without SX core and SX lite end users would have no other way of running Linux and Android on their systems or running homebrew and that is a major deal
it's not like there is some other way users can run Linux or Android on their mariko systems without the core and lite chips
and there are plenty of instances and examples of people using core and lite chips and the pro dongle to do things other than run backups like running those OS's and homebrew
it doesn't matter what the marketing is focused on it is clear that these devices have other uses besides just running backups
if they lose this case it would set a very dangerous precedent by establishing case law
more than likely this will get thrown out like the Crippen case
this is an absolutely disgusting abuse by the feds
it is criminal what they are doing , it is racketeering , they are acting as hired thugs to protect Nintendo (even though they are not protecting anything because not even .0001% of switch owners use these chips and it has 0 effect on Nintendo's' bottom line) and
violating the rights of these defendants using violence/threat of violence, harassment ,intimidation , kidnaping etc.
make no mistake these people are anthropomorphic pieces of human excrement
and if such a case is won it would be a huge blow for the community

it reminds me of the same scummy tactics that the automakers are using RIGHT NOW in my state
by airing intimidating ads for the right to repair ballot question initiative
they are running ads right now that are literally threatening people with rape if they vote yes on the right to repair bill
the ads basically say vote the way we want you to or you are going to get raped
not raped as in raped in your wallet at the repair shop, but physically sexually raped in your corn hole or pussy hole

 

[Tumbleweed]

Actually you are crying right now. How can i celebrate but be a whining baby?
What did SX do? They copy&paste Atmos code and up to 90% time they waited for Atmos updates to copy&paste them for their "god" tier OS.

You are just malding because you bought that and now you feel scammed and ripped off.

Im only sorry for the People who bought that dogshit. idk how even gbatemp allowed that on the platform in the firstplace @garyopa was posting updates and ads.

Imagine paying to get pirated games. Why not buy the games instead then?

Just a big pepelaugh at the two idiots that thought they can make the big bucks.

Yeah, I bought it, in 2017? When the Switch released, so why should I've been angry? Also wtf is 30 bucks? A lunch? lmaol....

Read my 2nd post about what I think of crackers asking for crowdfunding and people paying for it before saying your nonsense BS. I paid because it was the ONLY available option back than and I'm very happy with the service they provided. Much better than the free Atmosphere that I won't have any issues migrating to if really needed. I'm not a n00b m8y.