Italian YouTuber Once Were Nerd is facing the possibility of jail time after authorities raided his home and office over the review of retro gaming handheld devices, including ANBERNIC consoles.
The incident took place on April 15, when officers from the Guardia di Finanza executed a search warrant related to the alleged promotion of pirated copyrighted material.
Over 30 handheld consoles from brands including ANBERNIC, Powkiddy, and TrimUI were seized, along with the creator’s phone, which was returned two months later.
Under Italian law, officials are not required to disclose specific charges or the complainant until the initial investigation concludes. At that stage, the case will either be dismissed or proceed to trial.
The complaint reportedly concerns the reproduction of copyrighted material from companies such as Nintendo and Sony, with the case potentially originating from the agency itself. Currently, the creator’s channel may be shut down during the investigation, a step that can occur before any legal finding is made.
Italian authorities are citing Article 171 ter of the Italian Copyright Law, originally drafted in 1941, which allows for a maximum penalty of €15,000 and up to three years in prison.
The YouTuber has stated that reviews of devices like the ANBERNIC RG Slide were conducted without sponsorship or affiliate links and expressed compliance with the investigation.
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