Nintendo of America sued Tropic Haze LLC, the company behind the Yuzu emulator, in February 2024. The case ended with a judgment and permanent injunction entered after both sides jointly requested that outcome—not with a trial or a court ruling that emulators are generally illegal.
Why did Nintendo sue Yuzu?
Nintendo’s complaint alleged that Yuzu and software linked through its website circumvented technological measures protecting Nintendo Switch games. Nintendo also asserted copyright-related claims involving unauthorized reproduction and distribution, and alleged that Yuzu facilitated or induced infringement.
These were allegations in Nintendo’s complaint, not findings reached after a contested trial. The complaint invoked the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Copyright Act, but the case’s disposition did not include a contested opinion deciding those legal theories. Read Nintendo’s complaint.
What happened to the Yuzu lawsuit?
Nintendo of America filed suit against Tropic Haze LLC in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island. The docket records this timeline:
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| Date | Case event |
|---|---|
| February 26, 2024 | Nintendo filed its complaint. |
| March 4, 2024 | The parties jointly moved for entry of final judgment and a permanent injunction. |
| March 6, 2024 | The court entered final judgment and a permanent injunction, granting the joint motion. |
The action, Nintendo of America Inc. v. Tropic Haze LLC, is case No. 1:2024cv00082. The docket identifies it as a copyright case. View the docket listing.
Did Nintendo win the Yuzu case?
Nintendo obtained a final judgment and permanent injunction, but the procedural distinction matters: the court entered them after the parties jointly requested that result. The docket does not show a trial or a contested merits opinion deciding Nintendo’s allegations. Calling the outcome a trial victory would therefore misstate how the case ended.
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Did the lawsuit make emulators illegal?
No general ruling that emulators are unlawful resulted from this case. The judgment resolved the dispute between Nintendo and Tropic Haze; it should not be treated as a broad judicial decision about every emulator or every form of emulation. The complaint’s allegations about Yuzu likewise are not a court’s general findings about emulator software.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What the public case record does not establish
The docket listing reviewed here does not independently verify later payment or compliance with the judgment and injunction. A requested damages amount in a complaint is not, by itself, proof that the court awarded that amount; the case outcome described in the docket is the joint-motion judgment and injunction.
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- 6.2” LCD screen.
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- Detachable Joy-Con controllers
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- 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 to 9 hours
- The battery life will depend on the games you play. For instance, the battery will last approximately 5.5 hours for The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (games sold separately)
- Model number HAC 001(01)
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