Nintendo secures $4.5m default judgment against Switch piracy moderator
A US court has awarded Nintendo $4.5 million in damages from James Williams, known online as Archbox, over pirated Switch games. The judge granted a default judgment after Williams failed to respond despite being aware of the lawsuit. Nintendo alleged he operated Pirate Shops and moderated the SwitchPirates Reddit community, citing 30 games and seeking $150,000 per title.
A Washington federal judge entered a default judgment for Nintendo after James Williams, who used the handle Archbox, did not answer the 2024 complaint. The court noted he knew about the case because he had earlier retained counsel to challenge a Google subpoena. Nintendo alleged he ran several pirate storefronts, helped lead a large SwitchPirates Reddit community, and solicited eShop credit to acquire more titles.
Nintendo selected 30 first-party games and sought the maximum willful-infringement award of $150,000 per title, totaling $4.5 million. The judge found that estimate reasonable given potential lost sales. The ruling also permanently bars Williams from sharing pirated Switch software, distributing tools that bypass copy protection, or urging others to download them.
This outcome may strengthen deterrence for people who run or moderate piracy communities, while reminding platforms and moderators that legal exposure can follow online activity. Nintendo and game publishers could see symbolic value, though collecting the judgment may prove difficult. Consumers might face fewer easy piracy options, but legitimate buyers are unlikely to notice immediate changes. It may also prompt more scrutiny of gift-card resale and community donation schemes.