Nintendo seeks $4.5 million from Reddit moderator accused of Switch piracy promotion

Nintendo is seeking $4.5 million in damages from James Williams, known online as “Archbox,” the moderator of a Reddit community accused of promoting Nintendo Switch piracy. The legal filing follows a series of cease-and-desist notices that the company claims Williams ignored.

According to court documents, Nintendo is pursuing a default judgement after Williams allegedly failed to respond to multiple warnings and subsequent legal action.

The company argues that his activity on Reddit and other platforms facilitated the distribution of pirated Nintendo Switch games and tools designed to bypass the console’s protection systems.

Nintendo’s filing states that “NOA has suffered damages as a result of these breaches, including but not limited to decreased profits and a loss of profits related to reproduction and distribution of the Nintendo Switch games.” The company also claims the alleged actions have caused harm to its developers, designers and publishing partners.

This case forms part of a broader campaign by Nintendo to pursue individuals involved in game piracy. Previous cases include a $10 million judgement against Gary Bowser in 2021, $2 million against hardware modder Ryan Daly last month, and a $7.5 million claim filed last year against Jess Keighin.

The court documents suggest that Nintendo initially offered Williams the opportunity to comply with its requests before escalating to litigation. The company alleges that Williams deleted some online materials but continued to operate other related services.

Nintendo’s pursuit of substantial damages mirrors similar legal strategies used across the entertainment industry, where companies often argue that each illegal download equates to a lost sale.

The requested $4.5 million figure appears to follow precedent from previous intellectual property cases, including those involving Bungie.

The case remains pending as Nintendo seeks a default ruling in its favour, with no public response yet from Williams or his legal representatives.