Nintendo of America has filed a motion seeking $4.5 million in damages against James C. Williams, also known online as “Archbox,” over his alleged involvement in operating a large-scale network of Nintendo Switch piracy sites. According to court documents, the lawsuit targets Williams for managing several unauthorized online “freeshops” that collectively distributed tens of thousands of pirated Nintendo Switch titles between 2019 and 2024.
The filing outlines a complex network of piracy operations allegedly created and maintained by Williams, each serving as a hub for illegally obtained Nintendo Switch games. Among these were JITS (Jack-in-the-Shop), a popular piracy store boasting over 58,000 Discord members; Turtle in the Shop, described as a backup service with more than 61,000 users; and LiberaShop, which was reportedly offering access to over 33,000 digital copies of Nintendo games at the time of the complaint. Williams is also accused of serving as a senior moderator for the Reddit community “SwitchPirates,” which amassed nearly 190,000 members during its peak.
Nintendo’s legal team detailed how the operation functioned, emphasizing the company’s use of advanced technological protection measures within the Switch hardware and game software. These protections are designed to prevent unauthorized copying and use, yet Williams allegedly distributed circumvention tools—including the widely used “Tinfoil” application and “Signature Patches” software—enabling users to bypass these restrictions. The lawsuit asserts that Williams not only promoted these tools but also personally distributed them through platforms such as GitHub.
A key element of the complaint focuses on an alleged “donation” scheme, through which users were encouraged to send Nintendo eShop gift cards to Williams. These funds were then used to purchase legitimate digital games that were later reproduced and distributed freely through the pirate network. Donors were rewarded with access to exclusive “pro” tiers of the pirate shops, granting them priority access to unreleased or high-demand titles.
Nintendo sent a cease and desist letter to Williams on March 26, 2024, warning him to immediately halt his activities. The company claims that while Williams initially acknowledged wrongdoing, he refused to confirm compliance in writing and later attempted to erase evidence by deleting his GitHub account and social media posts. The lawsuit was officially served on August 13, 2024, and after Williams failed to respond, a court clerk entered default against him on November 8, 2024. Although he briefly retained counsel to intervene in a related subpoena, he has not formally defended himself against Nintendo’s claims.
The company is pursuing statutory damages of $150,000 for each of 30 representative titles, resulting in a total claim of $4.5 million. Nintendo described this as a conservative figure, noting that the infringement likely extended to a far greater number of games. The firm also chose not to seek additional penalties for violations of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) or recovery of legal costs, suggesting that its primary goal is to establish accountability and deter future piracy.
This case stands as one of Nintendo’s most assertive actions against an individual accused of large-scale piracy operations. It highlights the publisher’s ongoing commitment to protecting its intellectual property amid persistent challenges posed by digital piracy. As the gaming industry increasingly shifts toward digital distribution, Nintendo’s pursuit of this judgment reinforces its stance that it will take decisive action against those who profit from unauthorized game distribution.
