Nintendo Wins $4.5 Million Copyright Judgment Against James Williams
- Nintendo of America has won a $4.5 million copyright infringement judgment against James Williams, a Reddit moderator who operated online pirate shops distributing unauthorized Nintendo Switch software.
- The $4.5 million financial penalty breaks down to $150,000 per violation across 30 copyrighted game titles, including Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Luigi's Mansion 3, and Pikmin 4.
- Williams operated under the online username Archbox and served as a lead moderator for the r/SwitchPirates community on Reddit, where he requested donations via Nintendo eShop gift cards...
Nintendo of America has won a $4.5 million copyright infringement judgment against James Williams, a Reddit moderator who operated online pirate shops distributing unauthorized Nintendo Switch software. US District Judge Lauren King issued the default judgment in September 2026 after Williams failed to respond to a lawsuit initially filed in June 2024, according to court documents cited by The Verge.
Default Judgment and Financial Penalties
The $4.5 million financial penalty breaks down to $150,000 per violation across 30 copyrighted game titles, including Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Luigi’s Mansion 3, and Pikmin 4. Court filings state that Nintendo of America demonstrated how Williams promoted online storefronts offering pirated game files, solicited contributions of unauthorized software, and helped distribute copyrighted titles despite knowing the activity violated copyright law. Alongside the financial damages, the court ordered Williams to immediately disable access to all online stores he operated or controlled and to shut down social media accounts used for distribution. Telset reported that court clerks Joshua C. Lewis and Natalie Wood signed the default judgment documents enforcing the injunction.
Investigation and Reddit Persona Connection
Williams operated under the online username Archbox and served as a lead moderator for the r/SwitchPirates community on Reddit, where he requested donations via Nintendo eShop gift cards and game copies to supply his illegal online shops. Telset’s coverage notes that Nintendo investigators unmasked Williams by tracking his Reddit persona and cross-referencing those details with internal databases containing a Nintendo account linked to a handheld console sent in for repairs. After returning the repaired unit to Williams’ address, Nintendo issued a cease-and-desist letter. Williams initially replied via email promising cooperation before cutting off communication entirely, prompting Nintendo to pursue the default judgment.
Nintendo Enforcement Precedents
This legal victory joins a series of aggressive enforcement actions by Nintendo against intellectual property violations surrounding the Switch ecosystem. Telset reported that Nintendo previously secured a $2,4 million settlement with Switch emulator developer Yuzu in 2024, and won a $2 million settlement against a modder who created backup hardware such as the MIG Switch and MIG Dumper. While the r/SwitchPirates subreddit remains online, Aftermath noted that Williams is no longer listed as a moderator for the community.