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Nintendo Takes Legal Action Against Streamer for Piracy
A video game streamer known as Jesse Keighin, or “EveryGameGuru,” finds himself in legal trouble as Nintendo pursues a lawsuit seeking $7.5 million for streaming unreleased and pirated games.
Keighin reportedly streamed various unauthorized titles, including notable releases such as The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and Pokémon Scarlet and Violet, across platforms like Twitch, YouTube, and Kick.
The complaint, which was submitted to the Colorado District Court on November 6, emphasizes that Keighin ignored previous DMCA takedown notices and cease-and-desist orders. Instead, he allegedly persisted in streaming content while providing viewers guidance on running Nintendo games on non-official hardware.
According to court documents, Keighin is accused of creating new channels on different platforms whenever one was taken down, often taunting the company in the process. He allegedly made statements suggesting that attempts to stop him would be futile, claiming, “You can try to stop me, but I’ll keep going.”
On October 24, 2024, following enforcement actions against his streams, he reportedly sent a letter to Nintendo boasting about having “a thousand burner channels” and stated that he could continue this activity indefinitely.
Nintendo’s lawsuit argues that Keighin’s behavior not only infringes on copyright but also fosters a “culture of infringement” that negatively influences both sales and hardware exclusivity. The company’s damage calculations suggest a claim of $150,000 per infraction, citing that he illegally streamed at least fifty instances over a span of two years, resulting in a total claim of at least $7.5 million. They noted that he streamed at least ten different Nintendo titles without permission, many prior to their official releases.
One specific example mentioned in the lawsuit is Keighin’s streaming of Mario & Luigi: Brothership on October 22, just weeks before its scheduled November 7 launch.
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Nintendo’s firm stance against piracy underscores its longstanding commitment to combat unauthorized content, particularly for its high-profile game releases. This lawsuit further reflects the company’s ongoing legal challenges, including a prominent case against the developers of Palworld, which is accused of infringement related to Pokémon. Nintendo’s actions are indicative of its broader strategy to protect its intellectual property and maintain the integrity of its gaming ecosystem.
Source
www.dexerto.com