Nintendo wins $4.5 million default judgment against Reddit mod in Switch piracy case
A federal judge ordered James Williams, a moderator of the r/SwitchPirates community, to pay Nintendo $4.5 million and shut down online stores distributing pirated Switch games. Williams did not respond to the lawsuit.
Nintendo has secured a $4.5 million default judgment against James Williams, a Reddit moderator accused of operating online pirate shops distributing unauthorized copies of Switch games. A Washington federal judge issued the ruling on Wednesday after Williams failed to respond to the lawsuit Nintendo filed in June 2024.
Williams, known online as "archbox," was described in Nintendo's complaint as a leading moderator of the r/SwitchPirates community. According to court filings, he solicited donations of Nintendo eShop gift cards and copies of Switch games to be copied and distributed through online pirate stores. The lawsuit alleged Williams promoted shops offering pirated Nintendo game files and circumvention software, encouraged others to contribute pirated games, and assisted in distributing unauthorized copies despite knowing the activity violated copyright laws.
US District Judge Lauren King wrote in the order: "NOA has demonstrated that Williams promoted online shops offering pirated Nintendo game files and circumvention software, encouraged others to contribute pirated Nintendo games to his pirate shops, and assisted others in distributing pirated Nintendo Switch games, even though he knew such activity violated copyright laws."
The $4.5 million award reflects $150,000 per violation across 30 copyrighted games, including Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Luigi's Mansion 3, and Pikmin 4. The judgment requires Williams to immediately disable access to all online shops he operates or controls that offered pirated Switch games, and to shut down any social media accounts used to distribute copyrighted games.
Nintendo identified Williams through his Reddit activity and traced him via a Nintendo Account he had used for hardware repairs, allowing the company to obtain his address. This marks another legal victory in Nintendo's ongoing enforcement against game piracy. The company also won a case in the Netherlands in 2025 against the sale of Mig flash cartridges designed to play pirated game copies.
Sources
- Nintendo EverythingEstablished publication · recorded Sep 25, 2026Nintendo has been awarded $4.5 million in Switch piracy lawsuit
- The Verge GamingEstablished publication · recorded Sep 25, 2026Reddit mod ordered to pay Nintendo $4.5 million in Switch piracy lawsuit
- GamesIndustry.bizEstablished publication · recorded Sep 25, 2026Nintendo of America awarded $4.5m in lawsuit from Redditor for pirating Switch hardware and software
- TalkEsportSecondary publication · recorded Sep 25, 2026Nintendo Wins $4.5 Million Piracy Lawsuit Against r/SwitchPirates Mod Archbox
- Video Games ChronicleEstablished publication · recorded Sep 25, 2026Court orders Reddit moderator who widely pirated Switch games to pay Nintendo $4.5 million in damages
- Nintendo LifeSecondary publication · recorded Sep 25, 2026Reddit Mod Ordered To Cough Up $4,500,000 To Nintendo In Long-Running Switch Piracy Case
- GameSpotEstablished publication · recorded Sep 25, 2026Switch Pirate Ignored Nintendo’s Lawsuit, Now He Owes $4.5 Million
- Gamereactor UKSecondary publication · recorded Sep 26, 2026A Permanent Injunction Follows Nintendo's $4.5 Million Judgment