Nintendo Wins $2M Lawsuit Against Switch Modder for Piracy

A Nintendo console modder who declined to cease his business operations despite receiving formal warnings from Nintendo—and who subsequently chose to defend himself against the resulting lawsuit without legal counsel—has been ordered to pay $2 million in damages.

In July 2024, Nintendo filed a legal complaint against Michigan resident Ryan Daly, accusing him of operating Modded Hardware, a company that sold modified Switch consoles, unauthorized game copies, and devices like the MIG Switch that facilitate piracy.

Although Nintendo had previously issued a warning instructing Daly to stop his activities, he continued. This led Nintendo to pursue legal action. In October of last year, it became known that Daly opted to represent himself in court, denying any misconduct and presenting various defenses for his actions.

Now, nearly a year later, Nintendo has secured a victory in the case. As detailed in a September 5 judgment, Daly has been ordered to pay $2 million and is subject to a permanent injunction barring him from any future activities that enable or promote piracy.

The court determined that Daly, who was confirmed to have operated Modded Hardware, sold devices that enable piracy, hacked consoles, and modification chips. These actions caused Nintendo of America "significant and irreparable harm" and facilitated the large-scale creation, distribution, and use of pirated Nintendo games. Court records also indicate that Daly continued to represent himself throughout the legal proceedings.

Nintendo's successful lawsuit adds to its history of taking legal action against individuals involved in game piracy. For instance, Gary Bowser, an employee of a company that sold anti-circumvention devices, served a prison sentence and was ordered to pay $14.5 million—a financial obligation he has stated will last his entire lifetime.