US court orders Redditor to pay Nintendo £3.4m over Switch piracy
A US District Judge has issued a default judgment of £3.4 million ($4.5 million) against James Williams, a former Reddit moderator known online as “Archbox,” for his role in facilitating Nintendo Switch piracy. Williams, who moderated the r/SwitchPirates subreddit, failed to respond to Nintendo’s lawsuit, resulting in the default judgment being granted in the company’s favor.
According to court documents, Nintendo accused Williams of operating and promoting a network of unauthorized digital “shops” that distributed pirated Nintendo Switch content. The judgment reflects the court’s view of the infringement as “egregious,” warranting substantial punishment.
This case represents part of Nintendo’s broader enforcement campaign against Switch piracy. The company has previously pursued legal action against Gary Bowser, who was imprisoned for his piracy activities, and successfully targeted the Yuzu emulator software in 2024. By tracking Williams’ Reddit activity, Nintendo identified him as a key figure in coordinating piracy distribution networks.
The significant monetary judgment underscores Nintendo’s aggressive stance toward intellectual property protection and piracy on its platform. With the default judgment issued, Williams faces substantial financial liability despite his failure to mount a legal defense.