Introduction
Nintendo of America has secured a default judgment and permanent injunction in its long-running piracy case against James 'Archbox' Williams, the former lead moderator of the r/SwitchPirates subreddit.
The lawsuit, first filed in 2024, accused Williams of operating online "pirate shops" that offered extensive libraries of pirated Nintendo Switch games; the court has now entered a judgment ordering $4,500,000 in damages and requiring Williams to disable those services.
Case background and timeline
Nintendo initiated legal action in 2024 alleging that Williams sold or otherwise facilitated access to large numbers of unauthorized Nintendo Switch titles.
Documents filed during the case state that Williams failed to plead or otherwise defend himself, allowing the court to enter default at an early procedural stage.
A court filing dated 24 October 2025 showed Nintendo seeking $4,500,000 in statutory damages and a permanent injunction; a subsequent document published 23 September 2026 confirmed the court granted Nintendo's motion for default judgment and the injunction.
Court findings and orders (rewritten from filings)
The court granted Nintendo of America's motion for default judgment and entered judgment in favor of the company and against Williams, while also issuing a permanent injunction.
In describing Nintendo's claimed harm, court filings summarized the company's position that Williams reproduced and distributed hundreds or thousands of copyrighted Switch games and that his pirate shops had facilitated the distribution of thousands—possibly hundreds of thousands—of unauthorized copies.
The filings also record that Nintendo has invested substantial resources in technical and investigative measures to combat Switch piracy.
On remedial measures, the court ordered Williams to immediately disable access to all online shops he operates or controls that offered pirated Nintendo Switch games and to close related social media accounts.
Nintendo reported limited contact from the defendant during proceedings; a January 2025 communication from an attorney indicated Williams acknowledged Nintendo's right to obtain documents, but no further engagement has been recorded in the court record.
Industry context and related proceedings
This ruling represents another legal victory for Nintendo in its multi-year effort to curb piracy on the Nintendo Switch platform.
Separately, a contemporaneous lawsuit against modchip seller Modded Hardware has continued to progress, with its alleged owner, Ryan Daly, representing himself in court.
Conclusion
With the default judgment and permanent injunction now on the record, the Superior Court of Washington has formally sided with Nintendo of America in this matter.
The court deemed $4.5 million an appropriate damages award and has directed the immediate shutdown of the accused pirate operations; how or whether that sum will be collected remains a matter reflected in the court filings, given limited contact with the defendant.
Nintendo of America has secured a default judgment and permanent injunction in its long-running piracy case against James 'Archbox' Williams, the former lead moderator of the r/SwitchPirates subreddit.
The lawsuit, first filed in 2024, accused Williams of operating online "pirate shops" that offered extensive libraries of pirated Nintendo Switch games; the court has now entered a judgment ordering $4,500,000 in damages and requiring Williams to disable those services.
Case background and timeline
Nintendo initiated legal action in 2024 alleging that Williams sold or otherwise facilitated access to large numbers of unauthorized Nintendo Switch titles.
Documents filed during the case state that Williams failed to plead or otherwise defend himself, allowing the court to enter default at an early procedural stage.
A court filing dated 24 October 2025 showed Nintendo seeking $4,500,000 in statutory damages and a permanent injunction; a subsequent document published 23 September 2026 confirmed the court granted Nintendo's motion for default judgment and the injunction.
Court findings and orders (rewritten from filings)
The court granted Nintendo of America's motion for default judgment and entered judgment in favor of the company and against Williams, while also issuing a permanent injunction.
In describing Nintendo's claimed harm, court filings summarized the company's position that Williams reproduced and distributed hundreds or thousands of copyrighted Switch games and that his pirate shops had facilitated the distribution of thousands—possibly hundreds of thousands—of unauthorized copies.
The filings also record that Nintendo has invested substantial resources in technical and investigative measures to combat Switch piracy.
On remedial measures, the court ordered Williams to immediately disable access to all online shops he operates or controls that offered pirated Nintendo Switch games and to close related social media accounts.
Nintendo reported limited contact from the defendant during proceedings; a January 2025 communication from an attorney indicated Williams acknowledged Nintendo's right to obtain documents, but no further engagement has been recorded in the court record.
Industry context and related proceedings
This ruling represents another legal victory for Nintendo in its multi-year effort to curb piracy on the Nintendo Switch platform.
Separately, a contemporaneous lawsuit against modchip seller Modded Hardware has continued to progress, with its alleged owner, Ryan Daly, representing himself in court.
Conclusion
With the default judgment and permanent injunction now on the record, the Superior Court of Washington has formally sided with Nintendo of America in this matter.
The court deemed $4.5 million an appropriate damages award and has directed the immediate shutdown of the accused pirate operations; how or whether that sum will be collected remains a matter reflected in the court filings, given limited contact with the defendant.
