Nintendo Sues Accessory Maker for Switch 2 Leak
[summaraize]
Nintendo is taking legal action against Genki, a Japanese accessory maker, for showing a nearly identical replica of the Nintendo Switch 2 before its official announcement.
Genki caused a stir earlier this year when they unveiled a 3D printed mockup of the Switch 2 at the CES 2025 in Las Vegas, one of the biggest tech events. This replica revealed details like the size of the console, magnetic Joy-Con controllers, and the potential for using them as a mouse. This leak gave the public a sneak peek at features that were later confirmed when Nintendo officially revealed the Switch 2 in April.
Nintendo Takes Legal Action Against Genki
Nintendo has filed a lawsuit against Human Things, the parent company of Genki, in a California court. The lawsuit accuses the company of violating trademarks, unfair competition, misleading advertising, and disclosing confidential information about the design and features of the Switch 2 through interviews.
Nintendo is requesting the immediate destruction of all products associated with the Switch 1 and 2, a stop to the use of their trademarks, and compensation for the damages caused by the leak, with the amount to be tripled.
The lawsuit also includes what Nintendo calls the “timeline of Genki’s wrongdoings,” starting with a post on X (formerly Twitter) where Genki’s CEO claimed to have private details about the Switch 2. This was followed by the CES 2025 mockup and a parody event called “Genki Direct” on April 2, the same day as the official Switch 2 announcement.
To make matters worse, in January, Genki posted a photo of CEO Edward Tsai making a “shh” gesture with the caption “Genki ninjas infiltrate Nintendo Kyoto HQ,” which Nintendo claims was an attempt to confuse the public about Genki’s connection to the Switch 2.
This isn’t the first time Nintendo has taken legal action against companies over its trademarks and intellectual property. Not long ago, Nintendo filed a lawsuit against a grocery store named Super Mario in San Ramon, Costa Rica, demanding a name change. However, the Costa Rican National Registry rejected Nintendo’s request, ruling that its Super Mario trademark lacked classification in the country.
Nintendo also filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, alleging patent infringement over game mechanics similar to those found in Pokémon games.
Nonetheless, If Genki’s goal was to get noticed by Nintendo’s famous legal team, it looks like they’ve succeeded. Human Things now has 30 days to respond to the lawsuit, which lines up with the expected launch of the Switch 2.
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