Nintendo has once again demonstrated its firm stance against piracy and console modification. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington recently ruled that Ryan Michael Daly, who sold devices specifically designed to bypass protections on Nintendo Switch games, must pay Nintendo $2 million and is permanently enjoined from engaging in any future circumvention of digital protections.
According to court documents reviewed by foreign media outlet GameSpot, the products Daly manufactured and sold were "primarily designed to circumvent technological protection measures (TPMs)," severely undermining Nintendo's digital copyright protection system. The court noted that these actions caused "significant and irreparable harm" to Nintendo of America.
In addition to monetary damages, the court also ordered Daly to cease all related activities in the future, including refraining from providing modding or piracy instructions to others. Concurrently, all devices used to operate his modding business will be seized and destroyed, effectively eliminating any possibility of re-offending.
This is not the first time Nintendo has imposed severe penalties on individuals or groups. One of the most well-known cases involves hacker Gary Bowser, who was imprisoned for his involvement in a piracy organization and ordered to pay Nintendo $15 million. Even after his release, Nintendo was authorized to continue garnishing his wages until the full amount was paid.
Furthermore, Nintendo has actively expanded its crackdown on emulators and related creators in recent years. Just last year, the company partnered with YouTube to issue copyright strikes against multiple video creators who showcased emulated Nintendo games and hardware, further solidifying its control over the digital entertainment market. 
This ruling once again demonstrates Nintendo's unwavering commitment to protecting its intellectual property. For those still attempting to circumvent protections, the court's decision and substantial damages serve as a strong warning, signaling that the space for piracy and console modification in the next-generation gaming market will continue to shrink.
via： GameSpot