Court Orders Modder to Pay $2 Million for Nintendo Switch Piracy

Judge orders modder to pay $2 million in Nintendo piracy case

A Washington district court has handed Nintendo a significant legal win: Ryan Daley was ordered to pay $2 million after being found responsible for selling modded Switch consoles, modchips, and Mig flash cartridges that enable piracy. Nintendo said these products let the public play pirated games on a massive scale; the judge agreed.

In its filing, Nintendo argued Daley operated a site called Modded Hardware that trafficked in devices and services designed to circumvent Switch security. Daley represented himself in court and denied wrongdoing, but the ruling found the activity caused "significant and irreparable harm."

• $2 million judgment in favor of Nintendo
• Permanent injunction against selling modded consoles and circumvention devices
• Ban on Daley using devices designed to bypass Switch security
• Seizure, impoundment, or destruction of infringing devices owned by Daley

This decision is part of a wider crackdown by Nintendo. Over the past year the company has pursued file-sharing sites, pressured emulator projects, and warned that consoles could be disabled if tampered with. The ruling signals that courts remain willing to back platform owners when hardware and software modifications create widespread piracy risk.

For the modding community and secondary markets, the case is a reminder that modifying consumer devices can cross from hobbyist activity into illegal circumvention if the intent and effect are to enable copyright infringement. It also raises practical concerns for resellers and marketplaces that may host or ship these products.

Companies that develop consumer hardware and content should treat this as a playbook for risk reduction: technical controls, marketplace monitoring, legal readiness, and clear takedown workflows reduce both financial harm and reputational risk.

• Harden device security and update verification paths to limit unauthorized firmware and mods
• Monitor online marketplaces and forums for sales of circumvention tools and coordinate rapid takedowns
• Map legal pathways and prepare targeted litigation for repeat or large-scale infringers

QuarkyByte’s approach blends technical detection, marketplace intelligence, and legal-priority mapping to help rights holders and platform owners act quickly and proportionately. That means fewer lost sales, faster takedowns, and clearer evidence trails if litigation is needed.

The Daley ruling is a clear signal: selling tools that systematically undermine device security and enable piracy can trigger heavy financial and operational consequences. For companies and policymakers, the case highlights the value of combining robust technical defenses with active enforcement and marketplace oversight.