How a DIY Switch Modder Ended Up Owing Nintendo $2 Million: A Cautionary Tale

Daly represented himself in court, using some unusual defenses. He argued that Nintendo’s copyrights might not be valid and claimed that Nintendo didn’t have the right to sue him. He also alleged that Nintendo tricked him into signing a contract. However, the court ruled that Nintendo does, in fact, hold valid copyrights for its games and the Nintendo Switch operating system.

The court ordered Daly to pay $2 million in damages. He is also prohibited from using or selling devices that bypass digital rights management (DRM) protections. This includes any modified consoles or sharing links that show others how to hack them. Additionally, Nintendo will take control of Daly’s website, ModdedHardware.com.

This ruling is part of a larger trend in the gaming industry to protect copyrights more aggressively. For instance, just a few years ago, Nintendo reached a $4.5 million settlement with Gary Bowser, a key figure in the Team Xecuter hacking group. Bowser spent over a year in prison and stated he might end up paying Nintendo for a long time to come.

The rise in hacking cases highlights a serious issue. According to a 2022 report by the Entertainment Software Association, 75% of gamers believe cheating and hacking harm the gaming community. This sentiment is echoed in social media, where players express frustration over unfair advantages created by hackers. As Nintendo continues to enforce its copyrights, it’s clear that the fight against hacking is far from over.

For more information on digital copyright issues and the impact on gaming, you can check resources from the [U.S. Copyright Office](https://www.copyright.gov/) and the [Entertainment Software Association](https://www.theesa.com/).

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