What to know:
- Nintendo has filed a lawsuit against Jesse Keighin (EveryGameGuru) for streaming at least 10 pirated Nintendo games before their official release dates.
- The streamer allegedly broadcasted games like The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom and Mario & Luigi: Brothership across multiple platforms, accumulating over 50 incidents since 2022.
- After receiving takedown notices, Keighin taunted Nintendo by claiming he had “a thousand burner channels” and could “do this all day,” leading to potential damages of $7.5 million.
In a bold move that might have cost him too much, Colorado resident Jesse Keighin, known online as EveryGameGuru, has found himself in trouble with gaming company Nintendo. The company has launched a substantial lawsuit against the streamer for repeatedly broadcasting pirated versions of their games before their official release dates.
According to Polygon, the streamer’s activities weren’t limited to a single platform. He utilized multiple streaming services, including YouTube, Twitch, Kick, and several others, to showcase unreleased Nintendo titles. When faced with copyright strikes and channel takedowns, Keighin simply created new accounts and continued his activities.
The situation escalated when Keighin directly challenged Nintendo’s authority. After receiving multiple takedown notices, he sent a provocative email to the company, boasting about having “a thousand burner channels” and declaring he could “do this all day.”
Nintendo’s lawsuit details how Keighin not only streamed the games but also provided viewers with access to illegal tools and emulators like Yuzu and Ryujinx. He went as far as sharing step-by-step guides for accessing pirated games and even included links to Switch decryption keys.
The financial stakes are significant. Nintendo is seeking $150,000 in damages for each copyright violation and $2,500 for each instance of circumventing their technical protections. With over 50 alleged incidents in two years, the potential damages could reach $7.5 million.
The case has drawn particular attention because Keighin streamed several high-profile games before their release, including The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom, Super Mario Party Jamboree, and Mario & Luigi: Brothership. Nintendo argues that this pre-release piracy is especially damaging as it undermines its marketing campaigns and encourages others to seek out pirated copies rather than wait for official releases.
