Global Anti-Piracy Snapshot
Q3: July - September 2013
ACTIONS
THE AMERICAS
Proactive Customs Inspectors Identify Game Copier Components in Mexico. In
Guadalajara, Customs inspectors detained two shipments of electronic components from Asia, resulting in the seizure of over 1,200 game copying devices in August and
September. Nintendo has trained inspectors to detect and intercept game copier components that enter Mexico for in-country assembly and distribution, a complicated process that can involve assembling the components and testing devices with a
Nintendo DS handheld system to determine if a product is a circumvention device. One importer is a repeat offender facing criminal prosecution.
Seizure of game copiers by
Guadalajara Customs
Nintendo Files U.S. Lawsuit Against HackYourConsole.com. In the ongoing fight against video game piracy, Nintendo filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of Florida against the owner of HackYourConsole.com. This site operator developed an online business selling unauthorized copies of Nintendo games and illegal game copying devices, as well as services to hack and modify Wii consoles. The site also promoted the Gateway 3DS game copier, claiming to be an authorized U.S. distributor.
The lawsuit led to the site s closure and secured the defendant s cooperation against distributors of the Gateway 3DS device,
the first game copier to enable the play of illegal Nintendo 3DS games downloaded via the Internet. The HackYourConsole.com web page, now out of service, features a formal apology to Nintendo.
A U.S. Texas Court Sentences Pirate to Educate Others. In September, the Western District Court of Texas ordered an El Paso,
Texas man to create and post a video based on the consequences of piracy. The Texan also will be responsible for visiting local area high schools to educate students on the negative repercussions of violating IP rights. The business owner, who was found guilty of advertising modified Wii systems, and selling copies of Wii games and classic Nintendo titles via Craigslist, also has been sentenced to community service, protective observation, a future search of defendant s property to check for compliance and will pay a fine.
For a California Man, One Arrest Isn t Enough. Local police arrested a California man following a raid on his home that revealed he had developed a profitable business selling game copiers and counterfeit Nintendo games. The California businessman was selling his products at the Westfield Main Place Mall, offering R4i game copier cards with 200+ Nintendo games for 5 USD. Following the raid, the man was charged with IP crimes. Unfortunately, the criminal charges weren t enough to stop him from dealing in piracy. Within days of the initial raid and subsequent arrest, the individual decided to post six more offers to sell illegal products via Craigslist. Once again, the police arrested the man and seized his computers,
additional game copiers and memory drives.
IP POLICY ACTIVITIES
Brazil Struggles to Pass Effective Internet Legislation. After two years of crawling through Congress, the push to pass the
Marco Civil Internet Bill (which addresses fundamental rights to the Internet such as freedom of access, expression, privacy,
data protection and net neutrality) is on. President Rousseff has resurrected the Bill in response to revelations that the U.S.
National Security Agency had monitored Brazilian Government communications. Unfortunately, the Bill does not effectively address Internet piracy nor does it establish an enforcement regime to combat copyright infringement. Until now, opponents have blocked its passage but the President has insisted the Bill will move ahead of all other legislation.
AWARENESS AND TRAINING
