Nintendo Wins $4.5 Million Judgment Against Reddit Moderator in Switch Piracy Case

Nintendo has won a $4.5 million default judgment against James C. Williams, known online as “Archbox,” in a federal lawsuit over distributing unauthorised Nintendo Switch games and circumvention software.

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington entered the judgment on September 23, 2026, along with a permanent injunction restricting Williams from continuing the activities described in Nintendo’s lawsuit. The case is important not only because of the size of the award, but also because it shows how Nintendo has pursued operators connected to Switch piracy.

Why Nintendo Sued Williams

Nintendo filed the lawsuit in June 2024, alleging that Williams operated and promoted several unauthorised online shops offering pirated Switch games. The company also alleged that he distributed or promoted software designed to circumvent Nintendo’s technological protections.

Court records say Williams was also associated with the SwitchPirates Reddit community. Nintendo alleged that he used the community to direct users toward the pirate shops, solicit game files or Nintendo eShop gift cards, and provide information related to circumvention software.

The court’s December 2024 order allowing Nintendo to seek limited third-party discovery shows that the company sought information from services including Reddit, Google, Discord, GitHub, Cloudflare and domain registrars while investigating other people potentially connected to the alleged operation. The court’s early-discovery order documents that part of the case.

The Case Ended With a Default Judgment

A key detail is that the $4.5 million award did not follow a contested trial. Williams did not file an answer, and the court entered default before Nintendo sought final judgment.

Under the court’s ruling, factual allegations in the complaint were generally treated as established for purposes of default, except allegations concerning the amount of damages. The judge separately evaluated whether Nintendo’s claims supported the requested relief before granting the motion.

The September 23 court order states that Williams had been served and had notice of the lawsuit but failed to appear or defend the action.

Why the Judgment Was $4.5 Million

Nintendo sought $150,000 in statutory damages for each of 30 copyrighted games identified in its complaint. The court awarded the full amount, totalling $4.5 million.

The 30 titles included games such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Luigi’s Mansion 3, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

The court noted that $150,000 is the statutory maximum for a willful copyright infringement under the Copyright Act. The judge concluded that the circumstances described in Nintendo’s filings supported the maximum award for each of the 30 works.

Permanent Restrictions Also Apply

The financial judgment is only part of the ruling. The court also issued a permanent injunction covering the activities at the centre of the lawsuit.

Williams and people acting under his direction are prohibited from continuing to make available online shops under his control that offer pirated Nintendo Switch games. The injunction also restricts the distribution, advertising, sale, uploading or downloading of circumvention software and unauthorised Nintendo game copies.

The order further prohibits conduct intended to encourage members of the public to obtain circumvention software, copy Nintendo games or breach Nintendo’s user agreements. The federal court’s order includes the complete injunction.

Nintendo’s Broader Anti-Piracy Position

Nintendo has maintained a broad intellectual-property enforcement program covering unauthorised game copies, circumvention devices and counterfeit products. Its official piracy and intellectual-property guidance says the company considers distributing unauthorised game copies and circumvention products illegal.

Nintendo’s current Switch user agreement also prohibits users from bypassing or tampering with console protections and from distributing unauthorised software copies. Those restrictions were relevant to the contract-related claims Nintendo brought against Williams.

The company has pursued different parts of the piracy ecosystem in separate cases, including operators of online distribution services and developers or sellers of tools designed to circumvent console protections.

What the Case Means for Switch Piracy

The Williams case shows that legal exposure can extend beyond someone who directly uploads a game file. Nintendo’s lawsuit included claims involving copyright infringement, contributory infringement, inducement, circumvention of technological measures, trafficking in circumvention devices, breach of contract and tortious interference.

The judgment does not establish a new legal rule for every Switch piracy case. Instead, it resolves Nintendo’s claims against Williams through a default proceeding and applies the existing copyright and anti-circumvention framework to the allegations established in that case.

For Nintendo, the decision provides another court-backed enforcement action against an alleged distribution network rather than an individual consumer. For the wider gaming industry, it is another example of publishers using copyright and anti-circumvention laws against services and communities involved in unauthorised game distribution.

Pros and Cons of the Court’s Outcome

Key points:

• Nintendo received a $4.5 million statutory damages award
• The judgment covers 30 copyrighted Nintendo games
• A permanent injunction restricts further distribution of pirated games and circumvention software
• The case provides a detailed federal-court record of Nintendo’s allegations and requested remedies

Important limitations:

• The judgment was entered by default rather than after a contested trial
• Williams did not present a defence on the merits
• The $4.5 million award represents statutory damages rather than a separately calculated amount of Nintendo’s actual losses.
• The ruling applies directly to Williams and the conduct covered by the injunction.

Final Verdict

Nintendo’s $4.5 million judgment against James Williams is a significant result in the company’s ongoing fight against Switch piracy. The case combined copyright and anti-circumvention claims with allegations involving online shops and the promotion of unauthorised game distribution.

Crucially, the court entered the judgment by default. The court nevertheless reviewed Nintendo’s claims, determined that the requirements for default judgment were satisfied, awarded $4.5 million in statutory damages and imposed a permanent injunction.

The ruling adds another major court decision to Nintendo’s broader anti-piracy enforcement efforts. It demonstrates the range of legal measures the company is using against unauthorised distribution of Switch games and circumvention tools.