Reddit Moderator Ordered to Pay Nintendo $4.5 Million in Switch Piracy Lawsuit

Nintendo has won a $4.5 million judgment against James Williams, a Reddit moderator accused of distributing pirated Nintendo Switch games, according to a report from The Verge.

A Washington federal judge issued a default judgment against Williams on Wednesday, ordering him to pay the $4.5 million sum to Nintendo. The judge also ordered Williams to shut down the online stores that allegedly housed libraries of pirated Switch games, per the report.

Nintendo had sued Williams over allegations that he distributed pirated copies of games for its Switch console, part of the company's broader and longstanding efforts to combat piracy of its games and hardware through legal action.

A default judgment is typically issued when a defendant fails to respond to or defend against a lawsuit, meaning the court rules in favor of the plaintiff without a full trial on the merits. It was not immediately clear from the available reporting why Williams did not contest the case.

Nintendo has pursued numerous legal actions in recent years against individuals and platforms it has accused of facilitating piracy of its games, including through emulation software, modded consoles and unauthorized distribution channels, as part of its efforts to protect its intellectual property.

The case adds to a growing list of piracy-related legal actions brought by Nintendo against individuals in the United States.