Nintendo investigating possible copyright infringement in new Nokia smartphone

by Xav de Matos on Nov 29th 2009 11:30PM

Nintendo's says it will investigate possible copyright infringement in Nokia's N900 smartphone after a Nokia blog post showcased the device playing retro games through the use of an emulator application. According to Edge, the video (which is no longer available) featured someone playing Super Mario World and Super Mario Bros. 3, and also showed off buttons that supposedly opened emulators for Nintendo's Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, NES and SNES.

Nintendo UK PR manager Robert Saunders told Edge the company was unaware of the smartphone's emulation feature and stated that Nintendo would take "rigorous steps" to protect its intellectual property. "Our legal team will examine this to determine if any infringement has taken place," Saunders added. Even if the feature ends up on the cutting room floor, we imagine some crafty hackers are already taking steps to get emulation software working on the Nokia device. Just like they do with everything else.

Source

Tags: business, copyright, copyright-infringement, emulation, intellectual-property, legal, nintendo, nokia, roms

Reader Comments (88)

Yeah Nintendo, fuck the Man! I'm sure there's a massive piracy ring all throughout Nokia.

In fact, when I got a Nokia phone it came pre-loaded with every Nintendo game ever released, for free!

I don't understand why I'm getting downvoted.

Nintendo is going after the entire company for what is likely one person being an idiot and showing off what he downloaded at a time he shouldn't. This is a complete waste of resources and Nintendo should be ashamed of itself.

I think they down voted you just to see you reply to it like that :IO

Because irony is too much for Joystick comments.

Um... the video was posted by Nokia themselves. So yes, they are accountable.

You're not first and you're not welcomed here.

please dont ever say first on the Internet

Nintendo can suck it!

That's pretty expected since n770/n800/n810 all had emulators. n-series are just little linux machines, so zSNES and a bunch of other emulators with linux ports should run just fine on them.

Maybe Nintendo should wise up and start selling roms for use on this device and any other device that can run an emulator instead of bringing lawsuits. They are just illegitimizing the entire practice, which will make the probability that emu-players are pirating go from "likely" to "guaranteed".

Ninty...grow up, please.

Of course, if Sega welcomes emulation, you'd have to take the opposing position.

I wouldn't be surprised if Sega did want Nintendon't.

Protecting their intellectual property is one thing, but blocking emulators is another. Sometimes, it's the only way to play these older games. And many old games fall under the 'abandonware' category, so there's no issue.

Except "Abandonware" isn't an actual legal term and has no effect on Copyright law? Even so, if it is being sold in any form it's not Abandonware. This means nothing on the Virtual Console is Abandonware, and even those that aren't are still under copyright protection.

Compare the amount on the VC to the amount of releases.

That's the point. Half these companies from that era don't even exist anymore, or the rights to the game were dropped.

"Of course, if Sega welcomes emulation, you'd have to take the opposing position."

I'm sure that's exactly what Nintendo was thinking when they decided to investigate action. They saw this phone and said, "Well, normally we're pretty cool with this kind of stuff, but those bastards over at Sega, who have totally been our main console manufacturing competitor since 1996* also don't mind this stuff, so we'd better shut it the fuck down!"

*read: total bullshit

I know people are serious and bitter because of the economy...but seriously? You didn't get the joke?

@Brad: I don't see Nintendo complaining about the emulators themselves but about Nintendo's games being played on an emulator.

You might want to understand the points of an argument before criticizing it.

Okay, so I'm not fully awake yet. Yes, Nintendo has a problem with the emulators, but the point is to protect their IPs. Using an NES to play some Sega or other property doesn't matter because it's still a means to play Nintendo games for free, as the demo clearly showed.

That's one of the fastest downvotes ever.

And there are other retailers besides Amazon.

that'sa lot o' smiley's...

: D

That "conversation" was clearly written by someone who has no idea how humans communicate.

Popcorn! :D

Huh? Nintendo's one of the few companies that made the push for allowing you to play old games on new equipment. If this was abandonware, I can see people telling Nintendo to man up, but they already do make the older games available.

But they haven't got all the older SNES titles.

Especially this one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EarthBound

Maybe it's not their fault it's not on the VC, but they're making it hard for people to play this game.

Maybe if Nintendo had a reasonable structure for purchasing the old games, piracy would be less abundant.

The Wii Virtual Console is a fucking ripoff. Once their next system is released, Nintendo will make people pay for those same games they've already bought on the V.C. all over again.

honestly, nintendo can go to hell. They need to learn how to make money on 'new' games and concepts again, such as their own emulation mentioned above.

and no, repackaging games at $5-10 a pop on the wii doesnt count.

Nintendo needs to learn how to make money? last time i checked they were pretty damn good at that.

@kojo87

Yeah, maybe they turn a profit and have awesome systems, but it's not like they're really that cutting edge in many regards. They could do more and match services like xbox live. Their online store and online features are way behind.

I own a DSi and like the Wii (borrow it from a friend occasionally when they go out of town). But, they're overly traditional, slow, and conservative when it comes to digital downloads, online multiplayer, and social networking concepts in general.

Smart moves at the time, but currently behind the curve imo.

PS: I really, REALLY would have liked to have played a number of their multiplayer games with others using less restricted interfaces without the "friend code" bs, lol

Wow so much hate guys. Amazon has the lowest retail price right now. And your not Peter Moore buddy. It's your not WELCOME not welcomed.

FOURTH.
babies.

"you're"

The Fail is strong in this one.

Amazon is a deal machine. 15 bucks for each season of Curb Your Enthusiasm?

Yes. Hell yes.

Oh, the irony of this moron correcting someone's grammar.

It's "you're", you fucking twit. It's a contraction of "you are". "Your" shows possession of something.

And you're not fourth. You weren't first, either. Obviously you need to work on that, but here's a little tip for you: Don't do it here. In fact, just don't do it, because nobody cares what number comment you were.

Who the heck does Nintendo think they are protecting their property? Capitalist pigs. Sarcasm.

Ugh my stomach is feels weird those capitalist pigs I had last night must have been bad
*takes a ******all over your post. your generic mario avatar is now a shade of greenish brown*

Major fail on your part, Giovani. You poor fool.

@Fred

Without You I'm Nothing is one of my favorite albums.

WAh Wah wah, check it out

I'm 200.

Does that get your panties in a twist buddy?

I'm 20th.

Wah.

Seriously, STFU and GTFO.

@Darth Wah.

Okay, then.

When people say "wah wah wah," it makes it seem like they're a little 12 year old tool. Is that how old you are? If you are than this behavior is appropriate I suppose, but if you aren't, than you need to get some shit straightened out an analyze what it is exactly that happened to do you to turn you into an immature jackass.

File this under :"Reuben's #5 Pet peeve."

Well Reuben, when people don't exercise good tact when responding to someone's fail, (which I admit, that's what I did) that behavior is immature. I will not try to reason with someone who sorely is lacking in that area, so if I need to go down to his level to get my point across so be it.

Yes its stupid to say "wah", but its stupid to react in anger to that. I was proving that he isn't a person of great character either.

I fully admitted that it is a pet peeve of mine, so my response came at the peak of my annoyance.

I appreciate your thoughtful and articulate response.

Totally cool brother. Wasn't you.

FUCK YOU!

Oh Nokia, when will you learn that you and gaming just don't mix.

This comment makes me want a taco.

I'm not sure why.

I'm not sure how Nintendo could suit Nokia for this. I mean it is not like Nokia developed an emulator for their cellphones nor provide the development tools for this.

Just like they could sue any user who downloaded and played illegal ROMs. Nokia didn't distribute anything to customers, but they may have accidentally exposed their own illegal conduct.

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Nintendo investigating possible copyright infringement in new Nokia smartphone

Reader Comments (88)

Posted: Nov 29th 2009 11:37PM Konrad said

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