Nintendo tracked down an alleged Switch pirate using a combination of Reddit posts and repair orders, a new lawsuit has revealed.

As reported by Game File, Nintendo sued James “Archbox” Williams, from Surprise, Arizona, for allegedly violating its digital copyrights by selling pirated copies of Switch games.

According to the lawsuit, Nintendo hired a law firm called Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp to investigate online pirate video game stores and found a user called Archbox it traced to Arizona. It then spotted a Reddit user called Archbox (Archbox was a moderator of r/SwitchPirates). Based on their posts, the law firm was able to identify Archbox as James Williams. Williams, it turns out, had various Nintendo accounts associated with email addresses, which were tied to repair orders.

Yes, Williams, an alleged Switch pirate, actually made two repair orders with Nintendo tied to a Surprise, Arizona shipping address.

As you’d expect, cease-and-desists followed — one of which came just two days after Nintendo sent him one of his repaired items. The pirate shops Archbox was allegedly involved with include Jack-in-the-Shop, Turtle in the Shop, and NekoDrive, which all shut down following a cease-and-desist Nintendo sent in March.

“Defendant became a leading (if not the primary) moderator of the SwitchPirates Reddit community, which he helped grow to nearly 190,000 members," Nintendo’s initial complaint reads, as reported by Torrent Freak. "Since 2019, Defendant has posted thousands of comments and messages to the SwitchPirates Reddit Group.

“Defendant’s posts have included, by way of example, messages directing users to the Pirate Shops […]; and offering technical advice and encouragement to other users about how to use the Pirate Shops, how to download and install Circumvention Software, and how to play pirated copies of Nintendo Switch games.”

Nintendo now has a default judgment in their favor after Williams failed to plead his case to the court in time.

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[Chary]

There's a shocking amount of people who just fly way too close to the sun these days, and don't even try to cover their tracks. I'm honestly surprised it took this long to shut down those freeshop-adjacent setups.

 

[The Catboy]

This is why as a pirate, you need to learn how to repair your own shit or contact someone who knows how to repair your shit. Sending this shit to Nintendo is how you get caught

 

[Jayinem]

It's getting crazy Nintendo is watching what people post online now and tracking them down.

Luckily I've never pirated a game. So runtelldat Nintendo.

 

[LokeYourLord]

I think the word "dumbass" doesn't quite summarize the definition of what happened here.

Just... common man, the 101 of "how to be a criminal" : Never tie your real identity to your online identity if you are doing shit like this, and never reuse the same username/Email address twice.

I just can't even... Holy shit people are really fucking dense when it comes to committing crimes like this. I mean, if you are going to commit crimes, at least be smart about it you know?

 

[SylverReZ]

This is why selling pirated games is bad, and being mostly public about your activities.

He fucked around and found out.

 

[JuanMena]

“Defendant’s posts have included, by way of example, messages directing users to the Pirate Shops […]; and offering technical advice and encouragement to other users about how to use the Pirate Shops, how to download and install Circumvention Software, and how to play pirated copies of Nintendo Switch games.”

Damn... wait until Nintendo finds out about the TEMP.

 

[LokeYourLord]

This is why as a pirate, you need to learn how to repair your own shit or contact someone who knows how to repair your shit. Sending this shit to Nintendo is how you get caught

Precisely. And considering how "high up" he was in the hierarchy, how the hell did he NOT come to think of the fact to either repair it himself, or send it to someone that can fix it for him because surely Ninty will have your address in their system now. Naive much?

 

[Jayinem]

Damn... wait until Nintendo finds out about the TEMP.

Technically it could have an effect on gbatemp's existence. I doubt it but never know.

 

[SylverReZ]

Damn... wait until Nintendo finds out about the TEMP.

I highly doubt it.

 

[Xzi]

Not sure who's more foolish, this guy for selling pirated software, or the people who were willing to pay for it.

 

[Purple_Shyguy]

Pirating Nintendo games is awful and terrible and I would *never* do such a thing Nintendo if you are reading this.

 

[Ligeia]

Hilarious and sad to see that news next to the Sonic 2 16-bit remake demo news.

 

[LokeYourLord]

Not sure who's more foolish, this guy for selling pirated software, or the people who were willing to pay for it.

A combo of both I suppose, but definitely him for 80% of it. Couldn't even use different usernames, not use his actual fucking address and instead just use a postbox or some other way to get it shipped (or learn how to repair it himself or have someone he knows or finds online to repair it), different online identities, VPN, different Email addresses, etc.

Imo, he was practically begging for it, because if you act this retarded about being a criminal, you just deserve to get caught.

The other 20% are the morons that paid for it, which is hilarious in its own way.

 

[4d1xlaan]

Damn... wait until Nintendo finds out about the TEMP.

but everyone always says we dont support piracy

 

[SylverReZ]

but everyone always says we dont support piracy

Exactly. GBAtemp does not endorse piracy on their site; this includes links, magnets, base64 encoded, etc. This has been quite a problem for some time regarding new users who don't bother reading a list of rules.

 

[Jayinem]

The thing is technically Nintendo can sue someone for doing some of the things that are allowed on gbatemp. They may or may not win that lawsuit, but you can sue for just about anything. It's really up to the judge to interpret the law, and judges make rulings that modify the law all the time.

The only real deterrent is there's only so many people Nintendo can go after as they are just one company and nobody (to my knowledge) is going after the end users like Nintendo is. They can't sue everyone.

 

[Mama Looigi]

selling pirated copies of Switch games

for those who didn't read OP

 

[Ligeia]

lol all of you guys wait until Nintendo sues you for using some official Mario artwork as a forum avatar or something

 

[HalfScoper]

Old news honestly...