Download Anti-Piracy Training Manual in PDFInternet Piracy
Like movie and music files, unauthorized copies of Nintendo software are widely distributed or downloaded via the Internet, causing serious harm to Nintendo.
Nintendo's Internet Anti-Piracy Program addresses Internet piracy in several areas:
- Internet protocols,
- Internet auction sites,
- Warez release groups,
- Game copying devices, and
- Modification chips ("mod chips").
Internet Protocols
Illegal downloads occur in many forms including Peer-to-Peer (P2P) file sharing networks, and non-P2P Internet protocols, such as File Transfer Protocol (FTP) sites, Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channels, Usenet/newsgroups posts and websites. The most popular P2P networks for distributing illegal Nintendo video game files for unauthorized download are eDonkey, DirectConnect, FastTrack, Gnutella and BitTorrent.
In addition to its own monitoring and removal activities, Nintendo works with the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) who has retained an Internet monitoring service that proactively searches and identifies infringing game files being shared/distributed via these Internet protocols.
Internet Auction Sites
Pirates also use the Internet to sell counterfeit Nintendo products through auctions and websites. Pirates often dupe bidders by claiming their counterfeit Nintendo video game products available on Internet auctions such as eBay, Yahoo!, and Alibaba are genuine products obtained at a discounted price. A high percentage of Nintendo games sold via these auctions sites are pirated.
To curtail these sales and raise awareness among consumers, Nintendo monitors these sites and works with the various auction services to terminate any illegal auctions. To report suspect auctions to Nintendo please e-mail us at:
( auctionpiracy@noa.nintendo.com ).
Warez Release Groups
The term "Warez" group is used primarily to describe groups that specialize in obtaining copyrighted material and converting it into a format that can be quickly and easily released and distributed over the Internet.
Warez groups operate much like an organized business. Each team member has one or more functions and is highly skilled at protecting their data and identity. Hackers, crackers or rippers within the groups are usually programmers. Their role is to design hardware and/or coding software that hacks to extract/rip the game data.
To date, the Internet Relay Chat (IRC) networks appear to be the environment of choice to organize these illegal activities.
Nintendo takes all necessary steps possible to cease these groups' activities. In addition to its independent actions, Nintendo joins forces with law enforcement officials and global industry groups to pursue criminal prosecutions. For more information regarding the criminal actions against Warez groups, please go to: www.cybercrime.gov.
Game Copying Devices
Game copying devices connect to the computer and enable users to illegally copy video game software onto any type of memory cartridge, disk or directly to the hard drive of a personal computer. Game copiers enable the user to make, play and distribute illegal copies of video game software which violates Nintendo's copyrights and trademarks.
These devices allow for the uploading and downloading of Nintendo game data or so called Read Only Memory (ROMs) to and from the Internet. Flash Advance Linker, EZ-Flash, EZ-Pass and NeoFlash Linker are just a few examples of game copying devices that enable users to copy Nintendo games from the Internet. To view photos of game copying devices please visit the Game Copiers page.
Modification Chips ("Mod Chips")
The modification chips (or "mod chips") that have been developed for Nintendo's hardware systems are designed to circumvent the copy protection security system and deem the detection process inoperable, enabling the console to play pirated copies or illegal copies of Nintendo games downloaded from the Internet. To view photos of mod chips please visit the Mod Chips page.
