Nintendo Files Lawsuit Against Genki Parent Company Human Things for Trademark Infringement Over Switch 2 Accessories

Nintendo of America has initiated legal proceedings against gaming accessory manufacturer Genki and its parent company Human Things, citing alleged trademark infringement, unfair competition, and false advertising under the 1946 Trademark Act.

The lawsuit, filed in the United States District Court in the Central District of California, is a significant development as the gaming industry anticipates the arrival of Nintendo's next-generation hardware, the Nintendo Switch 2. According to Nintendo's detailed 27-page filing, the dispute centers on Genki's public claims regarding unreleased Nintendo Switch 2 hardware and the compatibility of its upcoming gaming accessories.

Nintendo asserts that Genki had claimed, through advertising and company communications, to have unauthorized access to a Nintendo Switch 2 console.

Subsequently, Genki promoted accessories that would purportedly be compatible with the still-unannounced platform.

Nintendo's attorneys argue that Genki could not legitimately develop Switch 2-compatible accessories without access to the console or proprietary technical specifications, neither of which had been provided or authorized by Nintendo. Providing a timeline of events, Nintendo's court documents state that in December 2024—before any official announcement of the Nintendo Switch 2—Genki publicly approached GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen to discuss “the launch Switch 2 accessories we are working on.” This outreach preceded Genki’s participation in the 2025 Consumer Electronics Show (CES), where, as listed on their official exhibitor page, Genki announced a Booth Media Briefing on January 7, 2025, to present “any Switch 2 info we may have as well as the stuff we’re making for it.” At CES 2025, Genki showcased and promoted what Nintendo describes as unauthorized and unapproved mockups and renderings of the Nintendo Switch 2 and related accessories.

The filing notes that company representatives even displayed 3D printed mockups of the handheld console, demonstrating them to journalists and allowing hands-on measurement, all while suggesting that Genki had early access to official Nintendo hardware. Nintendo's filing indicates that these actions contributed to widespread industry assumptions that Genki had received a Nintendo Switch 2 prototype directly from Nintendo or had gained approval to preview next-gen hardware for development purposes.

To clarify its position, Nintendo issued a formal media statement making clear that “the gaming hardware that Genki presented as Nintendo hardware at CES is unofficial and was not provided to the company by us.” Following Nintendo's statement, Genki publicly retracted previous remarks, denying early access to any Nintendo Switch 2 console and asserting that their accessory designs did not rely on leaked confidential information.

Despite this, the lawsuit alleges ongoing misleading promotional activity from Genki, including lighthearted posts that featured CEO Edward Tsai jesting about gaining insider access to Nintendo’s Kyoto headquarters and playfully questioning the company’s ability to keep secrets. As the legal process unfolds, Nintendo demonstrates its continued commitment to protecting its intellectual property and the integrity of its product reveals.

Given the high-profile nature of the Nintendo Switch 2 and anticipation within the gaming community, this case underscores the significant impact that unauthorized accessory marketing can have on publisher-manufacturer relationships, consumer perceptions, and upcoming hardware launches. Industry stakeholders and Nintendo Switch fans alike will be watching closely as this lawsuit progresses, with the outcome likely to help set new standards for hardware accessory makers operating within the gaming ecosystem.

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