Photo credit: www.engadget.com
Nintendo Takes Legal Action Against Streamer Over Piracy Allegations
Nintendo has initiated legal proceedings against a streamer known as EveryGameGuru, claiming that the individual has been streaming unauthorized gameplay of unreleased games. The company alleges that EveryGameGuru not only broadcasts illegal content but also provides access to ROMs and piracy tools to viewers. According to the lawsuit, the defendant has been livestreaming gameplays across various platforms, including YouTube, Discord, Twitch, TikTok, and Facebook, often without significant commentary.
The lawsuit details that EveryGameGuru has streamed at least ten different titles prior to their official release on no fewer than 50 occasions since 2022. Notably, the streamer reportedly showcased gameplay of Mario & Luigi: Brothership on multiple dates, including October 22 to 25 and October 29, well in advance of its November 7 release date. After Nintendo successfully had the videos removed across several platforms, EveryGameGuru continued his activities on Loco and even integrated a QR code linking to his CashApp account. Furthermore, the lawsuit highlights that the individual has created new accounts after his previous ones were disabled, indicating a persistent effort to evade enforcement. Allegedly, in an email to Nintendo, EveryGameGuru claimed to possess “a thousand burner channels,” stating that he could continue these activities indefinitely.
In addition to Mario & Luigi: Brothership, Nintendo’s lawsuit also mentions other titles streamed by EveryGameGuru before their official launch. These include The Legends of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door, Mario vs. Donkey Kong, Super Mario RPG, Super Mario Bros. Wonder, Pikmin 4, Splatoon 3, and Mario Strikers: Battle League. The case presents compelling evidence, including screenshots where the defendant allegedly directed viewers to piracy tools, revealing a step-by-step method for playing illegally downloaded ROMs. Included in the screenshots were links to Nintendo Switch emulators, sites distributing ROMs, and resources for obtaining decryption keys necessary for playing Nintendo Switch games. In one post, EveryGameGuru controversially remarked, “Capitalism is cancer,” adding that his channel faced deletion for sharing gameplay content.
Nintendo seeks $150,000 in damages for each copyright violation, which could accumulate to millions based on the number of alleged infringements reported in the lawsuit. As noted by 404media, the scale of the alleged violations indicates a significant potential financial liability for EveryGameGuru, should Nintendo prevail in its claims.
Source
www.engadget.com