games  anime  |  toys
Destructoid is gaming news, community, videos, and sometimes love. Take the tour or jump in with Facebook:

 


Nintendo still pissed about piracy, asks US Trade Representative for help photo

Nintendo is so pissed about piracy that they're calling out countries by name now. I guess they're not making enough money on the DS and Wii already. They blame game copiers and mod chips for the piracy in these countries, and warn parents that "if users of circumvention devices are children, they may be exposed to unsuitable content downloaded from the Internet and played on their Nintendo systems.”

In Nintendo's comments to the U.S. Trade Representative under the “Special 301” process (whatever the hell that is), they call out China, Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, and Paraguay as countries that deny "adequate and effective protection of video game products." They call China the "hub," and say that law enforcement in Brazil is "weak." Mexico? "Wholly inadequate." You can read all of their complaints after the jump.

I get that they're tired of the piracy. But I think it's ironic that their "About Nintendo" paragraph at the end of the press release brags that "Nintendo has sold more than 2.8 billion video games and more than 485 million hardware units globally." 

PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: China continues to be the hub of production for counterfeit Nintendo video game products. The number of online shopping sites in China selling infringing Nintendo products is increasing, and help is needed by the government to curtail the growth of these illegal marketplaces. These products are sold both inside China and to the world, including our key market in the United States. Chinese customs officials must stop shipments of game copiers and other infringing products out of China, and China should work in the coming year to eliminate barriers to its enforcement laws.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA: Internet piracy in Korea continues to increase, as does the availability of devices that get around product security and allow for the play of illegal Nintendo software. A massive customs raid of 10 premises that resulted in the seizure of more than 75,000 game copiers at the beginning of 2009 is a positive sign the government is serious about enforcement. Nintendo is pleased with Korea’s consistent customs seizures, and courts are now starting to hold distributors of circumvention devices, such as game copiers, accountable. The Korea-U.S. free trade agreement is important to all intellectual property rights holders.

BRAZIL: Federal anti-piracy actions are not reducing piracy in Brazil, and local enforcement efforts are weak. Efforts to prosecute for piracy are virtually nonexistent. Customs and border control agents failed to seize a single shipment of Nintendo video game products in Brazil in 2008. Internet piracy is increasing with no legal infrastructure in place to respond to the threat it poses to rights holders. High tariffs and taxes also constitute market barriers for legitimate video game products.

MEXICO: Anti-piracy actions by the Mexican government in 2008 were wholly inadequate. The Mexican government must recognize the seriousness of the piracy problem and start using existing enforcement tools. Mexico’s participation in negotiating the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement is encouraging, but enforcement efforts need to move forward now. The willingness of Mexican customs and Mexican postal service workers to be trained by trademark owners was a positive sign in 2008.

SPAIN: The availability of game-copying devices in Spain is alarming. Internet sites offering game-copying devices and illegal Nintendo software are widespread and must be addressed. Nintendo asks that the Spanish government implement laws protecting the creative copyright industry and enact laws against Internet piracy. Nintendo considers education a priority in its fight against piracy in the European Union. Customs authorities play an important role in enforcing intellectual property rights, and Nintendo is seeing positive signs in this area. Nintendo is pleased about recent steps taken by the Spanish National Police against distributors of game copiers.

PARAGUAY: Corruption continues to hamper anti-piracy efforts. Nintendo’s anti-piracy actions in Paraguay show that illegal goods are imported and also locally produced. Border controls are key to decreasing piracy, and the revised criminal code will increase penalties against those distributing circumvention devices in Paraguay.


Continue: More Piracy stories





prev next

27 comments | showing # 1 to 27

PappaDukes's Avatar
PappaDukes at 02/25/2009 08:55
Dale North's Avatar
Dale North at 02/25/2009 09:07
PapaDukes - exactly
ErigBurger's Avatar
ErigBurger at 02/25/2009 09:14
PUPPY!! :D
necrozen's Avatar
necrozen at 02/25/2009 09:14
Hey, why is there a picture of my dog, Game Piracy, on here.Oh wait....

...we named him Game Piracy because he was constantly shitting in the same place he eats, ruining the food for the rest of the dogs...
Mr Gilder's Avatar
Mr Gilder at 02/25/2009 09:15
This article is now about Corgi Pups. Proceed.
Corican's Avatar
Corican at 02/25/2009 09:18
Give them a break guys, they're only a small, poor company just trying to stay afloat in this troublesome economic times!
fetusmilk's Avatar
fetusmilk at 02/25/2009 09:20
are people pirating wii games? or is nintendo just complaining about there stupid DS games being copied.
MowDownJoe's Avatar
MowDownJoe at 02/25/2009 09:20
AWWWW! SO CUTE!

...What was this article about? I was wishing I had that dog.
Tron's Avatar
Tron at 02/25/2009 09:24
Huh. Corgi pup is on the first page of image search results.
zzyzx's Avatar
zzyzx at 02/25/2009 09:30
Bah. Business is business, whether you're a small company or a large one.

As a gamer, I might have some quibbles with Nintendo. If I were a shareholder, I think I'd be giving them the benefit of the doubt right about now.
twister1988's Avatar
twister1988 at 02/25/2009 09:31
I <3 Corgis! I have one named Smokey and hes really cool but kind of loud. Who else has teh corgis?
Diverse's Avatar
Diverse at 02/25/2009 09:44
"if users of circumvention devices are children, they may be exposed to unsuitable content downloaded from the Internet and played on their Nintendo systems.”

Yeah, right. I highly doubt Nintendo gives a shit about the children. They just want more gold bars in their money vault.

LONG LIVE THE CYCLODS.
Demtor's Avatar
Demtor at 02/25/2009 10:11
lol, thats pretty ballsy to call out each country one by one. An 'airing of grievances' of epic proportions?


"A got a lot of problems with you people!"
LukienAkeela's Avatar
LukienAkeela at 02/25/2009 10:22
Yes, I'm sure this will fly to the top of the list on China's and Korea's "sh!t to get done."
Dale North's Avatar
Dale North at 02/25/2009 10:25
My corgi has almost the same markings. He's way the fuck fatter, though.
CocoJambo's Avatar
CocoJambo at 02/25/2009 10:51
Wow, every motherf*cker here is a small time Robin Hood. Keep on stillin' from the big corporate evil!
SpiralGray's Avatar
SpiralGray at 02/25/2009 10:52
Maybe if they're that p.o.'ed at those companies they should stop shipping all their jobs to them. That might teach them a lesson.
EternalPersona's Avatar
EternalPersona at 02/25/2009 11:34
D'aaww! Look at the little puppy! Don't you want to rub his cute little belly and play with him?


Wait, what were we talking about again?
Naim Master's Avatar
Naim Master at 02/25/2009 11:43
Hey Nintendo , I live in Brazil , and you know what ? My Wii is modded and the Wii from the police officer son is also modded ...
seamonkey420's Avatar
seamonkey420 at 02/25/2009 12:07
would the big N like some cheese with that?
Spectreman's Avatar
Spectreman at 02/25/2009 12:34
* Maybe the people really donīt like pay 3x the original price or wait months for games already release in usa.
Mirax's Avatar
Mirax at 02/25/2009 13:34
I'm also from Brazil, and although my Wii is not modded (since I buy my games online for a good price), games are so expensive here that I can see why there is so much piracy. I don't think this is Nintendo's fault, but oh well.
whormongr's Avatar
whormongr at 02/25/2009 14:05
unsuitable like what- homebrew?
ChronosWing's Avatar
ChronosWing at 02/25/2009 18:19
@fetusmilk

Yes, actually pirating wii games is super simple and doesn't even require a mod chip just the homebrew channel, some blank dvd-r's and a certain homebrew program I'm not mentioning here in fear of getting the ban hammer.
CocoJambo's Avatar
CocoJambo at 02/25/2009 19:07
@chronoswing

I think you should get some kind suspension or even ban for even bringing that up. You just couldn't hold your 1337 knowledge in, right?
Analitic's Avatar
Analitic at 02/26/2009 02:12
I see, so people in china/brazil should be paying the same amount of money 40$ on average or even more for wii games even though they earn a lot less. Agreed business is business, but i dont see the burger king whoppers being sold for the same price as the US in those countries, if so then good luck having a market there in the first place.
Nintendo, get your regional pricing right first, make it affordable FOR CHILDREN and adults and then lets talk.

The social democrat
ChronosWing's Avatar
ChronosWing at 02/26/2009 03:05
@Coco

Yes my "1337" knowledge of information that's been common knowledge for over a year now. Get over yourself please.
prev next

Comment with Facebook





Click connect and comment instantly!

Comment with Dtoid





New? SIGN UP - it takes 5 seconds

Comments policy

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just speak your mind. We respect differing opinions on the site, so have at it. Be smart, funny, insightful, clueless, or cute -- but back it up with substance. Keep your cool, keep it fun. We only ask that you act respectfully and above all: don't be a troll and ruin it for everyone else. Don't bring down gamers or we'll, you know, gently shoot you in the face and stuff you into a flaming mailbox. Each comment is your opportuntity to make this community awesomer. Is that even a word?

Avoiding the banhammer only requires common sense: spamming, trolling, racism, NSFW stuff, and other forms of sucking will not be tolerated. If anyone is griefing please report abuse. Be good. Don't suck!

 
New on Destructoid.TV play all videos

Loading
Loading Destructoid Videos




    Win this!
    Reminder: We're giving away six copies of Magnacarta 2!



    Dtoid Twitter    Got news?   tips@destructoid.com

    Reviews & Previews
    Mahjongg Artifacts 2 review
    Dragon Age: Origins review
    Lost Winds: The Winter of the Melodias review
    Osmos review
    Space Invaders Extreme 2 review
    Half-Minute Hero review
    JU-ON: The Grudge review
    Kenka Bancho: Badass Rumble review
    Thexder Neo review
    Domino Rally review
    more reviews
    PS3's 256-player MAG
    Rooms The Main Building
    Skate 3
    Hudson's bringing back the Bonk
    James Cameron's Avatar
    Bomberman Battlefest
    Calling
    Bad Company 2's multiplayer
    Partying like it's 1959 in BioShock 2's multiplayer
    BioShock 2 through the eyes of Big Daddy
    more previews


    - The Dtoid Army is 49539 strong -

    Showing Cblogs with 3+ faps   show all

    Call for entries: do the wrong thing

    New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide




     Originals
    Jim Sterling: Ten 'classic' games that did not age well





















    More Destructoid Originals




     Popular now more
























    Destructoid's editorial lovefest is:
    Nick Chester
    Editor-in-Chief
    Jim Sterling
    Reviews Editor
    Dale North
    News Editor
    Hamza Aziz
    Community Manager
    Anthony Burch
    Features Editor
    Rey Gutierrez
    Video editor & director
    Niero
    Founder, publisher
    Letters to the editors
    tips@destructoid.com
    Associate Editors
    Ashley Davis Jonathan Holmes
    Brad Nicholson Jonathan Ross
    Brad Rice Jordan Devore
    Chad Concelmo Matthew Razak
    Colette Bennett Tom Fronczak
    Conrad Zimmerman Topher Cantler
    Dyson Samit Sarkar
    Contributors
    Adam Dork
    Ben Perlee
    Daniel Lingen
    Joseph Leray
    Joe Burling
    Mikey
    Will Maddock
    Stella Wong





     

     
      get involved

    register or login
    post a blog
    post a forum
    enter a contest
    contribute a news tip
    suggest a feature
    be a guest editor
    support

    new member's guide
    login assistance
    tech support
    report abuse
    email our editors
    read our dev blog
    nuclear crisis?
    keep in touch

    RSS feed
    Twitter
    Facebook
    Myspace
    Flickr
    Game nights
    Meetup+play online
    seriously

    about Destructoid
    advertising
    terms of use
    privacy policy
    jobs at MM
    buy our crap
    our network

    Tomopop
    Japanator
    Despingation?




    Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
    living the dream since March 16, 2006