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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchNintendo did win $4.5 million—but the money was awarded on September 23, 2026, not merely demanded in the original lawsuit. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington entered a default judgment against James C. Williams, whom Nintendo identified as “Archbox,” after he did not appear or defend the case. The court also issued a permanent injunction. This was not a contested jury verdict.
What happened in the Nintendo case?
Nintendo of America filed Nintendo of America Inc. v. Williams on June 28, 2024, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, case 2:24-cv-00960. Its complaint sought relief over alleged copyright infringement and related conduct. On September 23, 2026, the court granted Nintendo’s motion for default judgment and a permanent injunction, entering judgment on the copyright claim and awarding $4.5 million in statutory damages. Nintendo’s complaint and the court’s order document those distinct stages.
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Why was it a default judgment?
Williams did not appear or defend the action. The court therefore considered Nintendo’s request under the rules governing default judgment, rather than resolving the case after a contested trial. Judge Lauren King concluded that the relevant factors supported relief on Nintendo’s copyright claim. The judgment is a judicial award, but it should not be described as a jury finding after both sides litigated the evidence.
What did Nintendo accuse Archbox of doing?
Nintendo’s complaint identified Williams as an operator, promoter, or supporter of unauthorized online “shops” offering Switch game files. It alleged that he promoted the shops in r/SwitchPirates, helped users obtain circumvention software, and sought eShop gift cards or game files to add titles to the shops. Nintendo also alleged copyright infringement, circumvention of technological measures, and related claims. Those descriptions are allegations in the complaint, not separate findings reached after a contested trial.
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For the default-judgment analysis, the court said Nintendo sufficiently alleged ownership of copyrights in 30 listed Switch games and sufficiently demonstrated copying and distribution of unverified ROM files through online shops. The complaint’s Schedule A includes titles such as Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Super Mario Odyssey, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
How did the court arrive at $4.5 million?
The award is statutory copyright damages under 17 U.S.C. § 504(c)(2), not a calculation of proven lost sales. Nintendo requested $150,000 for each of 30 copyrighted works, and the court awarded that total:
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| Court-record figure | What it means |
|---|---|
| $4.5 million | Total statutory damages awarded in the September 23, 2026 default judgment. |
| 30 works | The number of videogames in Nintendo’s Schedule A used in the damages calculation. |
| $150,000 per work | The amount requested and awarded for each work; the court identified this as the statutory maximum for willful infringement of a work. |
| $750 to $30,000 per work | The statutory minimum and ordinary maximum described by the court; the maximum can rise to $150,000 for willful infringement. |
The court evaluated Nintendo’s request and supporting material in its damages analysis. The $4.5 million figure is therefore the statutory award in this case, not a finding that Nintendo proved $4.5 million in lost revenue.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What does the permanent injunction prohibit?
The injunction applies to Williams and people acting under his direction or control. It bars making the covered shops available; distributing or promoting unauthorized copies of Nintendo games or circumvention software; and encouraging others to download or obtain those materials. It is not a blanket ban on all Switch modding or all emulation.
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Judge King wrote that “the injunction does not prohibit Williams from obtaining access to Nintendo’s videogames—it simply requires him to do so lawfully.”
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What the ruling does—and does not—establish
- Relief was awarded, not just requested: Nintendo’s 2024 complaint asked for relief; the court granted the $4.5 million statutory award and injunction in 2026.
- The case was not contested through trial: Williams’s failure to appear led to a default judgment, not a jury verdict after adversarial litigation.
- The injunction has a defined scope: It targets the shops, unauthorized game copies, circumvention software, and encouragement specified in the order rather than every form of console modification or emulation.
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