Nintendo settles with accessory manufacturer for damages

Nintendo and the accessories manufacturer Genki have reached an out-of-court settlement for damages. This is shown in court documents submitted by lawyers for both parties to a Californian court. In addition, Genki must refrain from borrowing product names too closely from Nintendo brands in the future. The amount to be paid is not specified in the document.

Nintendo filed a lawsuit against Genki in May. The console manufacturer from Japan accused the company of using a strategic campaign to exploit public interest in the Switch 2. Genki had already published mock-up images of the Switch 2 before the console had even been announced. In doing so, Genki suggested access to internal Nintendo information that never existed. Among other things, Genki claimed to already own a real Switch 2.

No official cooperation

By using official Nintendo logos, Genki also gave the impression that he was officially working with the Switch manufacturer. This was a particular thorn in Nintendo's side: Genki was causing confusion among customers with this kind of marketing. Genki exploited the basis of trust that existed between Nintendo and its customers. Users who sell Genki products and discover defects could therefore also blame Nintendo for these errors, the Japanese argued in their statement of claim.

“Through its marketing efforts, Defendant continues to exploit the attention of the media and the fan base, displacing and threatening the sales of Nintendo's own accessories,” it said. Nintendo accused Genki of trademark infringement, unfair competition, and misleading advertising.

Genki's parent company, Human Things, apparently wanted to avoid a lengthy legal dispute with Nintendo. Instead, it agreed to an out-of-court settlement. This also came about this week with another Nintendo lawsuit: the operator of the ModdedHardware.com platform agreed to pay Nintendo a sum of 2 million US dollars. ModdedHardware sold tools for pirated copies on Nintendo consoles.

(dahe)