Nintendo Wins Settlement Against Genki Over Switch 2 Mock-ups and Trademark Infringement

Nintendo Secures Legal Victory in Trademark Dispute with Genki Over Switch 2 Accessories Nintendo has concluded a high-profile trademark infringement lawsuit against Genki, the peripheral manufacturer known for its gaming hardware accessories, following the company's promotion of 3D-printed prototypes for the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2.

The legal dispute, which unfolded earlier this year, centered on Genki’s public display and marketing of Switch 2 accessory mock-ups before Nintendo officially revealed details about the next-generation console.

This case highlights Nintendo’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding its intellectual property across the gaming industry. In the lawsuit, Nintendo alleged that Genki and its parent company, Human Things, not only infringed on several of Nintendo's trademarks through their designs, but also engaged in unfair competition and false advertising.

The Japanese entertainment giant specifically cited concerns about Genki’s use of product names, such as “Glitch,” as well as the branding of livestreams under the moniker “Genki Direct”—a clear play on Nintendo’s widely-recognized "Nintendo Direct" presentation format.

Additionally, Genki’s color schemes for its dock and controller prototypes were found to closely mimic official Nintendo products, further exacerbating the alleged violations. According to the terms of the settlement agreement, Genki and related subsidiaries must pay Nintendo an undisclosed sum for damages.

Furthermore, the companies are permanently prohibited from using any product names, branding elements, or color schemes that could be mistaken for Nintendo’s official merchandise.

This restriction includes combinations such as red and white, red and blue, green and pink, blue and yellow, purple and orange, pink and yellow, and purple and green—all signature design pairings commonly associated with Nintendo’s hardware lineup since the original Switch’s 2017 release. One of the primary exhibits leveraged by Nintendo in the case was Genki’s presence at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier in the year, where the company showcased non-official Switch 2 models and publicly invited industry insiders to discuss potential accessories for the unreleased platform.

Additional evidence included a high-profile social media exchange, where Genki tweeted at GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen regarding upcoming products, and a post from Genki CEO Edward Tsai referencing "infiltrating Nintendo Kyoto HQ," which Nintendo argued contributed to consumer confusion about the relationship between the third-party accessory maker and Nintendo itself. This legal settlement serves as a reminder of Nintendo’s proactive measures to protect its proprietary technologies, trademarks, and branding.

The outcome underscores the importance of clear boundaries between official and third-party products in the video game hardware ecosystem, especially with anticipation mounting for the next major evolution of the Nintendo Switch platform.

Industry observers can review the full details of the settlement for further insight into the enforcement of intellectual property rights within the gaming landscape.

Nintendo Switch 2 Nintendo Switch 2 Switch Genki Human Things Nintendo Switch Consumer Electronics Show GameStop Ryan Cohen Edward Tsai