Nintendo has won a $17,500 judgment against steamer Jesse “EveryGameGru” Keighin for pirating and streaming unreleased games. The case highlights Nintendo’s aggressive anti-piracy stance and the risks streamers face when flaunting copyright law.
Nintendo Wins $17,500 Judgment Against Streamer in Piracy Case.
Nintendo has once demonstrated its uncompromising stance on piracy, this time targeting streamer Jesse “EveryGameGuru” Keighin. A federal court in Colorado issued a default judgment against Keighin, ordering him to pay $17,500 after he streamed pirated Nintendo titles, including the unreleased Mario & Luigi: Brothership.
The case unfolded after Keighin not only broadcast pirated games but also openly mocked Nintendo’s legal team on social media. According to court filings, he destroyed evidence, evaded service attempts, and taunted the company’s lawyers. His actions left the court little choice but to rule in favor when he refused to respond to the lawsuit.
While Nintendo could have pursued damages of $100,000, the company limited its claim to the recent infringement. This decision suggests a strategic move: rather than seeking the maximum penalty, Nintendo focused on securing a clear legal victory that reinforces its zero-tolerance approach to piracy.
The court, however, did not grant all requests. Judges denied the company’s bid to destroy Keighin’s circumvention devices and rejected its attempt to issue injunctions against unnamed third parties. These denials highlight the limits of legal remedies in piracy cases, even when the defendant is uncooperative.
A Pattern in Anti-Piracy Strategy
This ruling is not an isolated incident. Nintendo has a long history of aggressively pursuing individuals and groups involved in piracy. The most notable example is Gary Bowser, a member of the hacking group Team Xectur, who was ordered to pay Nintendo $14.5 million in damages. Bowser’s case underscored the financial and legal risks of distributed tools that enable piracy on gaming platforms.
Keighin’s case, while smaller in scale, fits into this broader pattern. By targeting streamers who flaunt pirated content, Nintendo sends a clear message to the gaming community: piracy will not be tolerated, regardless of whether it is done for profit or not be tolerated, regardless of whether it is done for profit or notoriety. The company’s willingness to pursue legal action against individuals who publicly mock its enforcement efforts further reinforces its reputation as one of the most aggressive defenders of intellectual property in the gaming industry.
For streamers and content creators, the case serves as a cautionary tale. While streaming platforms thrive on early access and exclusive content, crossing the line into piracy carries serious consequences. This victory against Keighin underscores the risks of treating copyright infringement as a joke and the company’s determination to protect its games, even after they officially launch.
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