Highlights
Bootleg Pokemon vending machines have emerged in California malls, selling unauthorized game cartridges. Surprisingly, Nintendo has yet to take legal action against this infringement of their copyrights.The bootleg games available in these machines are packaged in transparent plastic cases and include cartridges that were never officially released in the United States. The owner of these machines operates a minimum of five in various locations across California, with prices varying and a $1 service fee applied to non-cash transactions.
The persistent existence of bootleg games and merchandise is to be expected, despite the widespread popularity of Pokemon and Nintendo's efforts to combat piracy. Nintendo has previously taken legal actions against individuals engaged in piracy.
Nintendo has yet to address the increasing number of bootleg Pokemon vending machines. These machines, selling unauthorized reproductions of various classic Pokemon games, were initially discovered in California in early 2022.
Being one of the most well-known brands worldwide, the Pokemon franchise has consistently been a target for activities such as trading card counterfeiting and unlicensed merchandise. Although bootleg Pokemon merchandise is usually easy to spot as fake, unauthorized copies of game cartridges for Nintendo's older consoles can be extremely similar to the genuine ones, making it difficult for the untrained eye to tell them apart.
The vending machines that have recently appeared in some California malls don't quite fit into the aforementioned category. Notably, these machines offer replicas of Pokemon Green cartridges, which were never officially released outside of Japan, and they come packaged in transparent plastic cases rather than resembling any legitimate packaging. It is worth mentioning that the first machine of this kind was discovered back in February 2022, yet it seems that Nintendo still hasn't taken action against this clear violation of copyright. In fact, a Twitter user named Reb from Los Angeles stumbled upon another one of these machines in late July 2023.
In the meantime, it seems that the owner of this unauthorized Pokemon venture has expanded their business. According to social media reports, they currently operate at least five machines across California. Each machine sells their products at a fixed price, varying between $10 and $15 depending on the location. The owner, whose contact information is prominently displayed on each machine, also charges an additional $1 service fee for non-cash transactions.
Considering the immense popularity of Pokemon, it is not surprising that there is still a market for bootleg games and merchandise. However, it is intriguing that Nintendo has not taken legal action against this illegal business. Nintendo is known for being highly litigious in the entertainment industry, having won significant legal battles and actively pursuing those who profit from piracy.
Canadian national Gary Bowser, a member of Team-Xecuter, faced severe consequences for his involvement in a notable case. After being convicted, Bowser was sentenced to 40 months in U.S. federal prison and ordered to pay a substantial $20 million fine. Team-Xecuter had been engaged in the sale of compromised Nintendo consoles that enabled the playing of pirated game ROMs. Although Bowser was released from prison in April 2023, he remains obligated to financially compensate Nintendo indefinitely.
