Nintendo sues Bowser for copyright infringement with Switch hacks

Nintendo takes its hostility to Bowsers (though not all Bowsers) one step further. Polygon has learned that Nintendo has sued Gary Bowser, a leader of Switch hacking group Team Xecuter, for allegedly infringing copyright by making and selling hacks. Law enforcers had already arrested Bowser in the fall, but the company hoped the case would punish the leader for the copyright infringement and two charges of trafficking.

A large part of the case is aimed at Bowser allegedly managing an ‘international piracy’ and distributing the Switch-oriented hacking tools SX Core, SX Lite and SX Pro. Some critics have argued that bootlegs are useful for storing games, but Team Xecuter sold the SX suite for profit – something that hurt its chances.

If successful, Nintendo will suspend Bowser’s operations and withhold $ 2,500 in damages for each traded device, plus $ 150,000 per copyright infringement. It is safe to say that the financial penalties will make Team Xecuter unfit even if it remains in operation.

The lawsuit reflects Nintendo’s history of defeating hacks and any other tools that could make piracy possible. It is not entirely surprising that the company would be so aggressive. Nintendo is even more dependent on software sales than competitors like Microsoft and Sony, because the success of the sales is often linked to the latest games in franchises like Mario or Zelda. No matter how much piracy is harmed by Nintendo’s conclusion, lawsuits like these make its position clear and can discourage boaters.

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