Nintendo Tackles Piracy, Emulation

Nintendo's aggressive stance against emulation is well-documented. Recent examples include the $2.4 million settlement with Yuzu emulator developers (March 2024), the cessation of Ryujinx development following Nintendo's intervention (October 2024), and the legal advice preventing a full Steam release of the Dolphin emulator due to Nintendo's pressure (2023). The infamous case of Gary Bowser, who was ordered to pay $14.5 million for reselling devices that bypassed Nintendo Switch's anti-piracy measures, further highlights this commitment.

Now, a Nintendo patent attorney, Koji Nishiura, has shed light on the company's legal strategy. Speaking at Tokyo eSports Festa 2025, Nishiura clarified that while emulators aren't inherently illegal, their use can be. Specifically, emulators that copy game programs or disable console security measures may infringe on copyright laws, particularly under Japan's Unfair Competition Prevention Act (UCPA). This act, however, is primarily enforceable within Japan, limiting Nintendo's international legal reach.

The presentation used the Nintendo DS "R4" card as a prime example. This device allowed users to play pirated games, leading to a successful UCPA lawsuit against its manufacturers and resellers, effectively banning its sales in 2009. Nishiura also emphasized that third-party tools facilitating pirated software downloads within emulators, such as the 3DS "Freeshop" or the Switch "Tinfoil," also violate copyright laws.

Nintendo's lawsuit against Yuzu highlighted the scale of the problem, claiming one million pirated copies of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and citing the emulator's Patreon revenue ($30,000 monthly) generated through features like early access to pirated games. This underscores the significant financial stakes involved in Nintendo's fight against emulation and piracy.