Breaking News: Yuzu Emulator Settles Major Lawsuit with Nintendo
Yuzu Emulator developers agree to pay $2.4 million to settle with Nintendo
The makers of the popular Switch emulator Yuzu have reached a settlement with Nintendo in a major lawsuit filed by the console maker. According to the court filings released on Monday, the Yuzu developers have agreed to pay $2.4 million in “monetary relief.” In addition, they have agreed to cease all activities related to Yuzu, including offering, marketing, and selling the emulator.
Developers end support for Yuzu and Citra
In a statement released on the Yuzu Discord, the developers announced the immediate discontinuation of support for Yuzu and its related 3DS emulator, Citra. They expressed their disappointment with users who have used their software for unauthorized purposes, such as leaking game content before its official release and promoting piracy.
Recognizing their unintended role in undermining copyright protection, the developers emphasize their commitment to ending piracy in the gaming industry. As part of their efforts, they will be shutting down their websites and pulling their code repositories offline.
Yuzu emulator designed to circumvent Nintendo’s copy protection
The proposed settlement acknowledges Nintendo’s claim that the Yuzu emulator is primarily designed to circumvent the company’s copy protection and enable the unauthorized playing of Nintendo Switch games. Although the Yuzu software itself does not include Nintendo Switch cryptographic keys, it is designed to function with the integration of such keys without authorization. This makes it a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, according to the settlement.
While the admission does not directly address the emulator’s ability to run Switch homebrew programs, it strengthens Nintendo’s argument that the emulator is primarily intended for unauthorized purposes, such as playing downloaded pirated games.
A significant settlement expense for Yuzu developers
The settlement imposes a significant financial burden on the Yuzu developers, with the emulator’s Patreon currently generating approximately $30,000 a month. The $2.4 million settlement is deemed reasonable in relation to the anticipated damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs that the parties could expect from a trial.
The developers’ decision to settle quickly may have been influenced by the potential legal costs of a trial. Legal experts suggest that Yuzu’s ability to continue operating in a decentralized manner outside the developers’ control is a likely outcome.
Impact on the emulation community and Nintendo’s legal actions
The Yuzu emulator developers have faced allegations of aiding potential Switch pirates and acknowledging piracy within the emulator’s communication channels. However, it remains uncertain whether legal actions similar to those against Yuzu will be taken against Ryujinx, another Switch emulator that has not faced any legal action from Nintendo.
Emulator programs generally enjoy legal protection due to existing US legal precedents on reverse engineering. Console makers, however, could pursue legal action against emulators that utilize cryptographic keys to circumvent copy protection. Emulator developers for obsolete systems, where hardware and software sales are minimal, are less likely to be targeted with such legal actions.
Nintendo’s history of vigorously defending its copyrighted works includes actions against fangames, ROM distribution sites, and hardware modders. While Nintendo has pursued legal routes less often against emulator makers, the company has shown opposition to Wii/Gamecube emulator Dolphin appearing on Steam.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
