Suspended Prison sentence for Switch modder: Another victory for Nintendo

[dany28]

Suspended Prison sentence for Switch modder – what sounds like a headline from a thriller has now unfortunately become bitter reality. In Japan, a 58-year-old man has now been convicted for selling hacked Nintendo Switch consoles. While many believe that piracy is a relic of the 2000s, this ruling shows that Nintendo remains uncompromising – worldwide.

Article: https://metro.co.uk/2025/04/14/nint...ended-prison-sentence-a-first-japan-22908026/

 

[fake-kun]

Is there an article about this? I'd like to have the full context before making any judgements.

 

[happymasksalesman]

So the old man went to jail for hacked switch?

 

[dany28]

Is there an article about this? I'd like to have the full context before making any judgements.

https://tarnkappe.info/artikel/gami...r-ein-weiterer-sieg-fuer-nintendo-313329.html
The article is in German you have to translate into .

 

[ShinnAsukaYESTaylorSwiftNO]

just keeps on honkin'

 

[Muklas]

Yeah, jail peope selling the tamest contraband in the world while leaving actual criminals free to run around. Love living in clown world.

 

[fake-kun]

https://tarnkappe.info/artikel/gami...r-ein-weiterer-sieg-fuer-nintendo-313329.html
The article is in German you have to translate into .

According to the article, Fumihito Otobe not only modded the consoles, but also sold them to others with pirated games pre-installed.

Not to say that what happened to him is right, of course, but the context is always appreciated.

 

[RustySK]

Long story short for people that can't read German - the man was apparently selling modded Switches that came with 27 games pre-installed at quite a low price (~170-180 bucks), Nintendo sued him over it and now he faces a (suspended) two year prison sentence and 3500 Dollar fine.

Really not all that scandalous or unreasonable, to be honest.
The article frames it as though modding the console as such was the issue - likely so as to get readers riled up - which, judging by what I'm reading here, does not seem to actually be the case. The sale seems to be the legal issue at hand as it infringed on Japanese IP protection laws. Which... yeah, that's just a bad idea in general.

 

[fake-kun]

Long story short for people that can't read German - the man was apparently selling modded Switches that came with 27 games pre-installed at a fairly low price, Nintendo dues him over it and now he faces a two year prison sentence and 3500 Dollar fine.
Really not all that scandalous, to be honest - the article frames it as though modding the console as such was the issue, which, judging by what I'm reading here, is just not the case. The sale seems to be the actual issue at hand. Which... yeah, that's just a bad idea in general.

This is also my opinion. This has happened many times before, and yet people act shocked every single time.

 

[happymasksalesman]

Thanks for translation

 

[rugal]

this is just like nintendo always attacking people
its nothing new and not the worst nintendo have done

 

[nobitakun]

Where is the issue? you can hack a piece of hardware because you paid for it, it's yours, and every component inside belongs to you, from every screw to the plastic buttons. But don't be so silly to put pirated games inside and sell it, that is illegal in every corner of the world.

The news is about stating something is right or something shouldn't be like this?

 

[Spike's iconSpike]

"Suspended" sentence is not prison time. Edited title for you and added article link for context.

 

[Matricks]

In this timeline, should hack his hands off will stop his peasants activity for good and example for others.

 

[extensionsnails]

Nintendo makes amazing games but they are an awful company imo

 

[Strategist's iconStrategist]

Japan is a lot more strict when it comes to piracy and copyright protection. I remember reading that video game renting business are outlawed in Japan

 

[Donte]

 

[beefbowl]

But don't be so silly to put pirated games inside and sell it, that is illegal in every corner of the world.

No one cares about that in Turkey, I'm pretty sure there are many countries where its not a problem selling a modded console with pirated games in it.

 

[TruxtonTatsujin]

just for some clarity, it's not illegal to mod consoles in Japan. I saw some articles a few years backing misreporting this. However it is illegal to offer modding services for consoles or game saves.

 

[NotGodlike]

just for some clarity, it's not illegal to mod consoles in Japan. I saw some articles a few years backing misreporting this. However it is illegal to offer modding services for consoles or game saves.

Wasn't there a case where Nintendo sentenced some guy who shared hacked Pokemon save files in Japan?

 

[Yankee]

So which clan of Ninja do you guys think the Daimyo of the Nintendo Shogunate employs? Fuuma? Ikko? Hattori?

 

[TruxtonTatsujin]

Wasn't there a case where Nintendo sentenced some guy who shared hacked Pokemon save files in Japan?

Yes, and it's happened more than once. Found two cases with a quick search.

Pokemon Sun Hacked Save Seller Arrested

A seller peddling hacked Pokemon Sun saves is arrested by police and could end up facing significant jail time and fines as a result.

gamerant.com

Japanese Police Arrest 36-Year-Old Man on Suspicion of Tampering With Pokémon Violet Save Data - IGN

Police in Japan have arrested a 36-year-old man on suspicion of selling illegally modified Pokémon save data to customers online — a practice which is banned under the country’s 2019 Unfair Competition Prevention Act.

www.ign.com

 

[NotGodlike]

Some guy who SOLD hacked Pokemon save data. Essential distinction, legally speaking.

Yeah, just figured out after seeing the articles. Still crazy they charged this much, let alone prison time of 5 years

 

[Waffles's iconWaffles]

So... They can now decide over what you do with your property after you have, you know, brought it? After it's yours? The WHOLE POINT of ownership is that the party that sold it to you doesn't have a say on whatever you do with it. It's out of their jurisdiction.

And the sickest thing is that the law is siding with them instead of laughing them out of the room and fineing them for wasting everyone's time.

What a bright future we are heading towards.

 

[Captain Murphy]

I understand why Nintendo does this to protect copyrite and all that crap but on this level? It just seems petty.