Nintendo Wins $2 Million From Switch Modder Who Represented Himself
▼ Summary
– Ryan Daly, operator of moddedhardware.com, now owes Nintendo $2 million as part of a recent settlement.
– The settlement was filed in a Washington state District Court and was jointly agreed to by both parties.
– Daly knowingly sold devices like the MIG Switch and MIG Dumper designed to circumvent Nintendo’s technological protection measures.
– He also sold mod chips to bypass Switch DRM and distributed copyrighted Nintendo games to customers.
– Nintendo initially approached Daly in March 2024, and he agreed to stop sales but continued, leading to the lawsuit filed in June.
Navigating the legal system without professional counsel can be a risky endeavor, as one Nintendo Switch modder recently discovered the hard way. Ryan Daly, who operated the now-shuttered website moddedhardware.com, has been ordered to pay Nintendo a substantial $2 million following a settlement reached in a federal court in Washington. The case underscores the severe financial and legal consequences facing those who engage in the unauthorized modification and distribution of gaming hardware and software.
A final judgment, mutually agreed upon by both Nintendo and Daly, determined that the defendant knowingly marketed and sold devices explicitly designed to bypass Nintendo’s technological safeguards. These products, which included the MIG Switch and MIG Dumper, were found to serve no significant commercial purpose other than circumventing protective measures. In addition to selling mod chips that disabled the Switch’s digital rights management (DRM) system, Daly was also found to have illegally copied and distributed copyrighted Nintendo games to his customers.
The legal action began after Nintendo first contacted Daly in March 2024 regarding his sale of these unauthorized devices. At that time, Daly provided both verbal and written assurances that he would cease all related sales activities. Despite this commitment, he continued to offer the products, prompting Nintendo to file a formal lawsuit in June of the same year. The resulting settlement reflects the company’s continued aggressive stance against piracy and hardware modification.
(Source: Ars Technica)
