Nintendo recently submitted a request to GitHub to block 8535 repositories containing forks of the Yuzu emulator. This request was made under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) in the US, citing infringement of copyright laws. The projects in question are accused of circumventing protection technologies utilized in Nintendo Switch consoles. GitHub has complied with Nintendo’s request and has already blocked the repositories containing forks of Yuzu.
Nintendo employs encryption methods in their consoles to prevent the distribution of pirated games and to safeguard against unauthorized copying. They own the copyright for games on their consoles and regulate the distribution of these games. The terms of use specify that games can only be played on their gaming consoles and prohibits the use of unauthorized devices.
The Yuzu emulator and its associated branches are accused of violating Nintendo’s rights by circumventing technical protection measures and using illegally obtained cryptographic keys to decrypt games and firmware. Despite users extracting keys using third-party tools, Nintendo views the emulator’s decryption as a violation of technical protection measures, even if the keys were extracted from legally purchased copies (as creating copies for use on other platforms is prohibited under the terms of use).
The Yuzu emulator, originally introduced as a tool for converting personal computers into platforms for intellectual stimulation, came under scrutiny when its developers seemingly condoned the use of pirate keys. Instructions on removing keys were provided on the Yuzu website, and users were advised to transfer files from a hacked console. These actions led Nintendo to accuse the project of piracy and unauthorized game copying. Subsequently, after a lawsuit was filed, the developers of Yuzu reached a settlement with Nintendo, agreeing to shut down the project and pay Nintendo $2.4 million in compensation.