Japanese court sentences man for illegal sale of modified Nintendo consoles

Historic sentence marks the first punishment in Japan for piracy involving the Switch

Nintendo’s crackdown on piracy continues strong, and a new case reinforces this stance. In an unprecedented outcome, a 58-year-old man was convicted in Japan for illegally modifying and selling Nintendo Switch units.

Fumihiro Otobe was judged last Monday (14) at the Kochi District Court. He was found guilty of violating Nintendo’s trademark rights by installing modchips on used console motherboards and reselling them online for around $195 each. Additionally, the devices were bundled with 27 pirated games, although it is not known exactly how many units were sold.

The sentence was two years in prison, with three years of probation, as well as a fine of 500,000 yen (approximately $20,545).

This case sets an important precedent: it is the first time someone has been arrested and sentenced in Japan for modifying and selling the Nintendo console, signaling a new phase in the legal battle against piracy in the country.

Source and images: TecMundo / Disclosure. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.