Nintendo Wins Lawsuit Against Streamer 'I Run the Streets'
Nintendo of America has secured a legal victory against a streamer who publicly defied the company after being accused of copyright infringement. A court has ordered Jesse Keighin, known online as "EveryGameGuru," to pay $17,500 in damages following a lawsuit filed by the gaming giant earlier this year. The case gained notoriety not only for the accusations of piracy but for Keighin’s bold and ultimately costly taunt directed at Nintendo’s legal team.
The judgment marks the conclusion of a short but eventful legal battle that serves as a stark reminder of Nintendo's aggressive and unwavering stance on protecting its intellectual property.
The Lawsuit and a Costly Taunt
The legal proceedings began in 2024 when Nintendo of America filed a suit against Keighin. The company alleged that the streamer was engaging in multiple forms of copyright infringement. The core accusations centered on Keighin livestreaming pirated versions of Nintendo games, some of which had not yet been officially released to the public. Furthermore, Nintendo’s complaint stated that Keighin was actively promoting and sharing links to popular emulator software, specifically Yuzu and Ryujinx, which can be used to play unauthorized copies of its games.
After receiving notice of the impending legal action, Keighin chose a path of public defiance rather than compliance. In a widely circulated social media post, he addressed the corporation directly with a now-infamous message.
"You might run a corporation, but I run the streets," Keighin wrote, a statement of bravado that quickly became the defining quote of the case. This confrontational stance did little to deter Nintendo and instead drew significant attention to his activities and the subsequent lawsuit.
A Pattern of Infringement
According to the legal filings, Keighin's actions went beyond casual gameplay. The lawsuit detailed a pattern of behavior that Nintendo deemed particularly harmful to its business and brand. The key issues raised by the company included:
- Pre-Release Piracy: Livestreaming games before their official street date is a major concern for publishers, as it can spoil narratives for legitimate customers and impact launch-day sales and excitement.
- Promoting Circumvention: By providing links to emulators like Yuzu and Ryujinx, Nintendo argued that Keighin was actively trafficking in circumvention devices—tools used to bypass the copyright protections on their consoles and software.
- Copyright Infringement: The act of broadcasting gameplay of illegally obtained copies of games constituted a direct infringement of Nintendo's copyrights.
This case is part of a much broader, long-term strategy by Nintendo to combat piracy. The company has historically pursued legal action against individuals, ROM-hosting websites, and hardware modification groups. This lawsuit highlights their specific focus on the ecosystem that enables the piracy of games for their current-generation console, the Nintendo Switch.
The Final Judgment
The legal battle concluded with Nintendo winning a default judgment. This type of ruling occurs when a defendant fails to respond to a court summons or does not mount a formal defense against the accusations. As a result, the court ruled in favor of the plaintiff, Nintendo.
The final judgment against Keighin includes two significant components. First, he has been ordered to pay $17,500 in statutory damages to Nintendo. Second, and perhaps more importantly for the long term, the court has issued a permanent injunction against him. This legally binding order prohibits Keighin from engaging in any future infringement of Nintendo's copyrights. This includes, but is not limited to, playing, distributing, or promoting unauthorized copies of Nintendo games and sharing information about emulation software used for such purposes.
Nintendo's Unwavering Stance on Piracy
This legal victory is another chapter in Nintendo's ongoing war against piracy and the tools that enable it. The company maintains that these activities cause "serious, irreparable harm" to its business, devaluing the creative work of its thousands of employees and development partners.
The case against Keighin shares parallels with Nintendo's recent, high-profile lawsuit against the creators of the Yuzu emulator. In that case, the developers of Yuzu agreed to a $2.4 million settlement and a permanent injunction that ceased the development and distribution of their software. While the damages awarded in Keighin's case are far smaller, the underlying message is identical: Nintendo will actively monitor and pursue legal action against those it believes are infringing on its intellectual property, whether it's a software development team or a defiant streamer.
The outcome of this lawsuit serves as a cautionary tale, demonstrating that taunting a multi-billion dollar corporation with a famously litigious history is a high-risk strategy with serious financial and legal consequences.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is Jesse "EveryGameGuru" Keighin?
A: Jesse Keighin is a streamer who was sued by Nintendo for copyright infringement related to playing pirated games and promoting emulators. He gained notoriety for his defiant social media post directed at the company.
Q: How much did the streamer have to pay Nintendo?
A: The court ordered Jesse Keighin to pay $17,500 in damages as part of a default judgment.
Q: Why did Nintendo sue the streamer?
A: Nintendo sued him for allegedly livestreaming pirated games before they were released and for sharing links to emulation software, which the company argued constituted trafficking in circumvention devices and copyright infringement.
Q: What was the "I run the streets" comment?
A: It was a quote from a social media post Keighin made in response to Nintendo's legal threats, where he wrote, "You might run a corporation, but I run the streets." The comment became a central and memorable part of the story.