Nintendo's legal department is at it again, flexing its muscle over an alleged leak involving the Switch 2.
Ah, there it is again – our favorite enforcement unit: Nintendo’s legal department. Quick, relentless, and not exactly known for subtlety.
The Genki Situation
This time, they’re coming for Genki, an accessory maker that apparently jumped the gun by promoting products for the still-unannounced Switch 2. According to Nintendo, Genki got access to confidential details – possibly even a prototype – and used them to advertise compatibility with their gear at CES 2025. The response: a full-blown lawsuit.
Nintendo accuses Genki of unauthorized use, misleading marketing, and trademark violations. And they’re not just asking nicely. The company wants a sales ban, destruction of all related products, full profit handover, damages, legal fees, and even a campaign to “correct” consumer confusion.
Whether this ends up in court or gets settled behind closed doors remains to be seen. But the message is clear: Nintendo takes leaks seriously. Very seriously. And they’re not afraid to go after smaller companies to prove the point.
Nintendo's Legal Assaults: A History Of Aggressive Takedowns
If you’ve been following Nintendo’s legal tactics, you’ll know that the company has a long history of taking swift and brutal action against anyone they see as violating their intellectual property.
First, there was Yuzu, the popular Switch emulator. After Nintendo sued Tropic Haze, the creators, for encouraging piracy, Yuzu was shut down and the company was forced to pay $2.4 million in damages. Suyu, Yuzu’s successor, didn’t fare any better. Despite taking steps to avoid legal trouble, Nintendo filed a DMCA complaint and wiped out all traces of the emulator.
Most recently, Nintendo has set its sights on Palworld, accusing the creators of patent infringement for their Pokémon-inspired creatures. While the lawsuit is ongoing, Nintendo has already faced setbacks in securing patents for their claims, with some applications getting rejected due to issues of originality. The case is far from over, but it’s clear that Nintendo isn’t backing down anytime soon.