Nintendo has secured a significant legal victory against Ryan Daley, who has been ordered to pay $2 million and cease selling modified Nintendo Switch consoles online, following a copyright lawsuit filed by the gaming giant.
The lawsuit, which was filed last year, accused Daley of operating the website Modded Hardware, where he allegedly sold modchips, hacked Switch consoles, and Mig flash cartridges. These products and services, Nintendo argued, enabled widespread piracy of its games. The court ultimately agreed, finding that Daley’s actions caused “significant and irreparable harm” to Nintendo. The ruling stated that the products and services offered by Daley facilitated the creation, distribution, and playing of pirated Nintendo games on a large scale.
Daley, who chose to represent himself without legal counsel, denied any wrongdoing. Despite his defense, the court found him liable for the alleged copyright infringement. As a result, the court issued an order prohibiting Daley from modding Switch consoles or using devices designed to bypass the console’s security measures. The judge further mandated the seizure, impoundment, or destruction of any devices owned by Daley containing copyright-infringing material.
This legal victory is part of Nintendo’s ongoing efforts to combat piracy and protect its intellectual property. Recently, the company won a case against a file-sharing site accused of hosting pirated games. Additionally, Nintendo’s legal actions have led to the shutdown of popular Switch emulators like Yuzu and Ryujinx. The company has also warned that it may implement measures to render Switch 2 consoles inoperable if players attempt to modify them, signaling its commitment to enforcing its copyrights and preventing piracy.
