Nintendo Updated Policies So That They Can Permanently Disable A Switch Device If The Owner Violates Restrictions
The new restrictions cover a much broader range of activities.
Nintendo
Nintendo is quite famous for initiating lawfare to combat behaviors that may infringe its intellectual property, targeting both studios and individuals. With its latest update to the Account User Agreement and Privacy Policy, the intention to strengthen their weaponry is made even clearer.
As noticed by Game File, there were more than 100 changes compared to the older versions, which took effect on May 7. Among them, one of the most noticeable changes is that Nintendo may render a user's device "permanently unusable in whole or in part" if they fail to comply with the restrictions. In other words, for users who play pirated games, run emulators or modify their consoles, the company could just disable the devices.
The restrictions part has been extended largely compared to the previous statement, covering a broader range of behaviors, and now Nintendo says that all the following activities are considered unauthorized:
"(a) publish, copy, modify, reverse engineer, lease, rent, decompile, disassemble, distribute, offer for sale, or create derivative works of any portion of the Nintendo Account Services; (b) bypass, modify, decrypt, defeat, tamper with, or otherwise circumvent any of the functions or protections of the Nintendo Account Services, including through the use of any hardware or software that would cause the Nintendo Account Services to operate other than in accordance with its documentation and intended use; (c) obtain, install or use any unauthorized copies of Nintendo Account Services; or (d) exploit the Nintendo Account Services in any manner other than to use them in accordance with the applicable documentation and intended use, in each case, without Nintendo’s written consent or express authorization, or unless otherwise expressly permitted by applicable law."
This term is valid for users in the United States, whereas for UK users, it's slightly less intense. It states that the unauthorized use of a "Digital Product," which is limited to personal and non-commercial use, would result in it being "unusable."
"Any Digital Products registered to your Nintendo Account and any updates of such Digital Products are licensed only for personal and non-commercial use on a User Device. Digital Products must not be used for any other purpose. In particular, without NOE's written consent, you must neither lease nor rent Digital Products nor sublicense, publish, copy, modify, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile or disassemble any portion of Digital Products other than as expressly permitted by applicable law. Such unauthorised use of a Digital Product may result in the Digital Product becoming unusable."
This renewal arrives a month before the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, making it a suitable time to prepare for limiting the usage of new consoles and tighten the relevant policies once for all.
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