A YouTuber Is Getting Sued for Reviewing Knockoff Game Consoles
Imagine going to jail because you bought the “Soulja Game.”
Published 17 minutes ago in Wtf
If you’ve spent any time on Temu, AliExpress or even just walking around your local near-dead shopping mall, you’ve probably seen one of those knockoff game consoles that comes pre-loaded with a bunch of ROMs.
The legality of such consoles is, charitably speaking, questionable. However, as ROMs are really, really easy to get, the market has become flooded with devices that are filled with, and can play, old NES, SNES and other console games.
Italian retro gaming YouTuber Once Were Nerd reviewed such consoles. Consequently, he’s being sued by the Italian government.
According toAndroidAuthority, authorities from the Guardia di Finanza seized over 30 handheld gaming consoles from his home and office and accused him of promoting video-game piracy.
Although the Once Were Nerd says he didn’t pirate games himself or promote affiliate links, Italian authorities are pursuing charges under Article 171 of Italian Copyright Law, which allows for up to three years in jail and a €15,000 fine for reproduction or promotion of pirated content. Even before guilt is established, Italian law permits officials to shut down his channel — something which, though they haven’t done yet, they easily could.
So, if you have one of these knockoff consoles, just keep it to yourself.