Nintendo and Amazon have initiated legal action against sellers on Amazon’s platform accused of distributing counterfeit Amiibo figures and pirated Nintendo games. The companies are seeking a $7 million summary judgment against these sellers.
The lawsuit, ongoing for over a year, claims that the group of counterfeiters generated at least $2,343,386 from the sale of fake merchandise. Nintendo and Amazon argue that both companies suffered damages due to these illicit activities and that the proposed penalty is three times the amount earned by the sellers.
Despite knowing the identities of the accused, none have responded to the lawsuit or appeared in court. This absence strengthens the likelihood of the court granting the summary judgment.
The lawsuit also aims to deter future counterfeiting by imposing significant penalties. Legal representatives for the companies described the $7 million figure as conservative, yet sufficient to discourage similar actions in the future.
In recent months, Nintendo has taken action against various entities infringing on its intellectual property, including a fan film related to the Legend of Zelda and a supermarket in Costa Rica using the Super Mario name. While the fan project was canceled, the supermarket retained its name due to specific legal exceptions.
As Nintendo prepares for the release of the Switch 2, the future of Amiibo figures remains uncertain, although some figures are set for reprints this year.
For more details, visit GameSpot.