10 Worst Things That Nintendo Have Done

Although Nintendo are in their legal right to protect their properties, the way they crackdown on ROM websites isn't just tough but cruel.

Probably the best example of Nintendo's uncompromisable policy towards pirates centres around a Canadian hacker called Gary Bowser. (Yes, that's his real name.) When Nintendo learned Bowser was pirating 3DS and Switch titles, they had the fittingly named hacker's operation shut down. Since he undermined Nintendo's intellectual property, Bowser was sentenced to 40 months in prison and a $4.5 million fine. It may sound harsh, but it's pretty on-brand for the Japanese company.

But it didn't stop there. Nintendo tacked on a civil lawsuit, so Bowser owed an extra $10 million. Being an unfeasible amount to pay, Nintendo compromised (in their minds), allowing them to snag at least 25% of Bowser's monthly income until the debt is paid. 

If Gary Bowser earned $5000 per month, it would take almost a thousand years for him to be debt-free. Also, it's worth mentioning that Bowser only managed to pay Nintendo $175 within the first three years.

Though this Draconian punishment is meant to ward off would-be pirates, suing a man into oblivion until his dying day doesn't put Nintendo in the best light.