Pirate Ordered To Pay Nintendo $1.5 Million

**Valigarmander** · 02-09-2010, 03:26 AM

Pirate Ordered To Pay Nintendo $1.5 Million - Nintendo - Kotaku

Quote:

Nintendo sent out a press release today triumphantly boasting of victory in an Australian court over a man accused of pirating New Super Mario Bros. Wii. And how this single man now owes the mega-rich company $1.5 million.

Last November, Nintendo says it was able to "employ the use of sophisticated technological forensics" to catch the man, James Burt, who has been convicted of uploading the word's first pirated copy of New Super Mario Bros. Wii onto the internet.

Burt - a single man, not a company or group - now must pay the Japanese publisher and platform holder AUD$1.5 million (USD$1.3 million), "to compensate Nintendo for the loss of sales revenue caused by the individual's actions."

Yes, he broke the law. And as a pirate, should be punished. But this is a game that's sold over 10 million copies in just three months.

Nothing like a little disproportionate punishment to maintain that lovable image, eh Nintendo?

$1.5 million seems like a bit much.

Though to be honest I can't stop laughing my ass off at this story.

Robotazy · 02-09-2010, 03:28 AM

Pirating is wrong.

Unless you can shoot Pirate Ship based projectiles out of your hand.

***Cosmonautical*** · 02-09-2010, 10:39 AM

Hey, as long as other people can reap the rewards of one guy's foolish actions, there'll always be an eager market for it.

Honestly, it costs too damn much to pirate Wii games, IMO. You're better off buying and owning them rightfully. Leave this kind of stuff for the dead systems.

**Cravdraa** · 02-10-2010, 05:57 PM

There's nothing disproportionate about it. Crap like this probably cost them even more money than the 1.5 million they were awarded.
Is it kinda ridiculous to fine the man more than he can probably pay in his life time? Yes, definately. It's not like they ever expect to see most of that money. It doesn't make them the bad guys though.

I REALLY HATE POKEMON! · 02-10-2010, 06:51 PM

I love old emulators. I wouldn't have played half the old games I did if it weren't for them.

Dizzy · 02-10-2010, 07:43 PM

...

...

...Did he pay them in doubloons?

1-up Salesman · 02-10-2010, 07:57 PM

Emulators for older systems where it's hard to find the games for them? Fine.

But right now, don't think about pirating games you could easily find in a store.

Metal Mario · 02-10-2010, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Out-of-Control Inflatable Gorilla Fire

Honestly, it costs too damn much to pirate Wii games, IMO.

It sure cost this guy too damn much.

Random User · 02-11-2010, 09:28 AM

Nintendo will probably never get this money.... Heck, they'd be lucky if they get half....

I REALLY HATE POKEMON! · 02-11-2010, 01:45 PM

^ Half? Depending on his age and income, they're lucky if they get anything worth while whatsoever from him personally.

**Valigarmander** · 02-11-2010, 02:48 PM

He'll probably just file for bankruptcy.

Metal Mario · 02-11-2010, 03:51 PM

Nintendo doesn't need the actual money. What's infinitely more valuable is the message this action will hopefully send to potential pirates.

Sim Kid · 02-11-2010, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1-up salesman

Emulators for older systems where it's hard to find the games for them? Fine.

But right now, don't think about pirating games you could easily find in a store.

Of course people do it anyway...usually with PC games.

02-09-2010, 03:28 AM	#2
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	PIERAT SHHHHIP Pirating is wrong. Unless you can shoot Pirate Ship based projectiles out of your hand.

02-09-2010, 10:39 AM	#3
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Hey, as long as other people can reap the rewards of one guy's foolish actions, there'll always be an eager market for it. Honestly, it costs too damn much to pirate Wii games, IMO. You're better off buying and owning them rightfully. Leave this kind of stuff for the dead systems.

02-10-2010, 05:57 PM	#4
Cravdraa VGF RPG Mod Join Date: May 2001 Location: It's Round on the sides and high in the middle. Gender: Posts: 8,470 Thanks: 171 Thanked 661 Times in 403 Posts	There's nothing disproportionate about it. Crap like this probably cost them even more money than the 1.5 million they were awarded. Is it kinda ridiculous to fine the man more than he can probably pay in his life time? Yes, definately. It's not like they ever expect to see most of that money. It doesn't make them the bad guys though.

02-10-2010, 06:51 PM	#5
I REALLY HATE POKEMON! Goku lives on the Sun Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: California, U.S.A Gender: Posts: 12,717 Thanks: 1,334 Thanked 275 Times in 234 Posts Blog Entries: 1	I love old emulators. I wouldn't have played half the old games I did if it weren't for them.

02-10-2010, 07:43 PM	#6
Dizzy Podiaphobe Join Date: Oct 2007 Gender: Posts: 19,359 Thanks: 1,764 Thanked 1,161 Times in 804 Posts Blog Entries: 116	... ... ...Did he pay them in doubloons?

02-10-2010, 07:57 PM	#7
1-up Salesman Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Letting you guys know that I'm planning on continuing Attack of the Spammers soon. Gender: Posts: 4,095 Thanks: 2,162 Thanked 250 Times in 194 Posts Blog Entries: 9	Emulators for older systems where it's hard to find the games for them? Fine. But right now, don't think about pirating games you could easily find in a store.

02-11-2010, 09:28 AM	#9
Random User Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Equestrian Republic of Spanglidesh Gender: Posts: 3,562 Thanks: 320 Thanked 195 Times in 143 Posts Blog Entries: 4	Nintendo will probably never get this money.... Heck, they'd be lucky if they get half....

02-11-2010, 01:45 PM	#10
I REALLY HATE POKEMON! Goku lives on the Sun Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: California, U.S.A Gender: Posts: 12,717 Thanks: 1,334 Thanked 275 Times in 234 Posts Blog Entries: 1	^ Half? Depending on his age and income, they're lucky if they get anything worth while whatsoever from him personally.

02-11-2010, 02:48 PM	#11
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	He'll probably just file for bankruptcy.

02-11-2010, 03:51 PM	#12
Metal Mario Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Gender: Posts: 16,435 Thanks: 72 Thanked 190 Times in 127 Posts	Nintendo doesn't need the actual money. What's infinitely more valuable is the message this action will hopefully send to potential pirates.