Yes. Nintendo has been sued, including over Donkey Kong and patent claims involving its controllers. In other disputes, Nintendo was the party that sued: in 2024 it filed a case against the company behind the Yuzu emulator. The outcomes vary, and being named in a lawsuit does not mean a court found Nintendo liable.
Universal sued Nintendo over Donkey Kong
Universal City Studios sued Nintendo, arguing that Donkey Kong infringed Universal’s rights in King Kong. The case was not simply a finding that Nintendo copied the film character: the courts considered Universal’s trademark and related claims, and Nintendo brought counterclaims of its own.
In 1985, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled for Nintendo on summary judgment. The Second Circuit affirmed the disposition. The district court captured the dispute as one involving “two gorillas, King Kong and Donkey Kong, and the rights of their respective owners, plaintiff Universal City Studios, Inc. … and defendants Nintendo Co. Ltd. and Nintendo of America, Inc.” (district court opinion; Second Circuit opinion).
Later patent suits targeted Nintendo controllers
Genuine Enabling Technology
Genuine Enabling Technology sued Nintendo over patent claims involving products including Wii remotes, the Wii U GamePad, Joy-Con controllers, and the Switch Pro Controller. The district court granted summary judgment for Nintendo in 2020, and the Federal Circuit affirmed in 2022. This was a patent dispute decided for Nintendo, not a ruling that Nintendo infringed the patent (district court opinion; Federal Circuit opinion).
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Gamevice
Gamevice also sued Nintendo over patent claims concerning Switch controllers. A Federal Circuit opinion filed January 16, 2026 identifies Gamevice as plaintiff-appellant and Nintendo Co., Ltd. and Nintendo of America, Inc. as defendants-appellees. The opinion is marked nonprecedential; that designation and its party labels establish the case’s posture, but should not be mistaken for a general ruling that Nintendo was liable (Federal Circuit opinion).
Nintendo has sued other parties, too
In February 2024, Nintendo of America filed a complaint against Tropic Haze LLC concerning the Yuzu Switch emulator. Nintendo alleged unlawful circumvention and copyright infringement. Those are allegations in a complaint; the complaint itself is not a court finding that they were proven (case docket).
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- 6.2” LCD screen
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
- Nintendo Switch is the home of Mario & friends
What these cases do—and do not—show
These examples answer the question without establishing a complete count of lawsuits involving Nintendo. They show different companies suing Nintendo over different legal theories, as well as Nintendo filing suit against another party. In the Universal and Genuine Enabling Technology cases, the cited decisions were in Nintendo’s favor; the Yuzu complaint records Nintendo’s claims, not a finding about their merits.
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- One player can use a Joy-Con in each hand
- Two players can each take one
- Multiple Joy-Con can be employed by numerous people for a variety of gameplay options (additional Joy-Con sold separately)
- Slip a set of Joy-Con into a Joy-Con grip accessory, mirroring a more traditional controller. Or, select an optional Nintendo Switch Pro Controller.
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- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- 6.2” LCD screen.
- Three play modes: TV, tabletop, and handheld
- Local co-op, online, and local wireless multiplayer
- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
Rank #3
- Play your way with the Nintendo Switch gaming system. Whether you’re at home or on the go, solo or with friends, the Nintendo Switch system is designed to fit your life. Dock your Nintendo Switch to enjoy HD gaming on your TV. Heading out? Just undock your console and keep playing in handheld mode
- This model includes battery life of approximately 4.5 - 9 hours.
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- Model number HAC 001( 01)
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