Relive Nintendo’s wild Donkey Kong court case from 1983
In 1983, Nintendo faced a landmark legal battle with Universal Studios over the rights to use the Donkey Kong trademark and character. This case became a pivotal moment in gaming history, determining whether Nintendo could continue developing and distributing games featuring the iconic character. The court’s decision ultimately favored Nintendo, allowing the company to retain control of the Donkey Kong franchise and secure its place in gaming history.
Decades after this legal victory, Donkey Kong has become one of gaming’s most enduring and beloved franchises, while King Kong—the original character Universal sought to protect—has also flourished in popular culture. Remarkably, both entertainment entities have recently found common ground, collaborating on the commercially successful Super Mario Bros. film franchise.
To commemorate this pivotal case and significant moment in gaming history, YouTuber “Gaming Historian”—known for producing meticulously researched documentaries on retro games that have drawn comparisons to filmmaker Ken Burns—announced in early April that they would be stepping back from creating educational content about classic games due to burnout. The announcement marked a poignant moment for fans, as the creator used their final video to reflect on the historical significance of gaming’s formative legal and creative moments.