Nintendo has filed a lawsuit against a streamer for broadcasting ten games prior to their release
Nintendo has initiated legal proceedings against streamer Jesse "Every Game Guru" Keighin for allegedly streaming pirate versions of ten games before their official launch.
Recent court documents submitted in the US District Court for the District of Colorado allege that Keighin acquired and streamed stolen pre-release games on over 50 different occasions since 2022. The games involved include Mario & Luigi: Brothership and The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom.
The company has stated that despite issuing numerous takedown requests on platforms such as YouTube, Twitch, and Kick, Keighin persisted in streaming these unreleased titles. Consequently, his streaming channels on YouTube and Twitch were shut down due to copyright violations.
Additionally, Nintendo claims Keighin used illegally modified consoles and emulators for gameplay and distributed links to emulators like Yuzu and Ryujinx, encouraging viewers to use these tools.
According to the lawsuit, Keighin sent a communication to Nintendo in late October, mentioning he has "a thousand burner channels" ready for continued streaming.
Nintendo demands $152,500 in damages for alleged breaches of the Copyright Act and further compensation for proven actual damages during the trial. The company is also requesting the confiscation and destruction of emulators and related devices owned by Keighin, including data storage items.
A Nintendo spokesperson confirmed to Polygon: "We have filed a lawsuit against an individual who is clearly infringing on Nintendo's intellectual property rights and violating our Game Content guidelines."
The spokesperson continued, "Nintendo is committed to protecting the creative endeavors of developers and publishers who dedicate immense effort to crafting experiences that bring joy to everyone."
This year, Nintendo has significantly intensified its efforts against emulators. For instance, Tropic Haze, the Yuzu developer, settled with Nintendo for $2.4 million in March, and Ryujinx reportedly ceased development after Nintendo contacted them last month.
