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Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
Few companies in the video game industry act as decisively as Nintendo when it comes to protecting its intellectual property. The Japanese company recently initiated a legal operation with pinpoint accuracy. However, this time, its target isn’t a competitor but an anonymous Discord user who leaked confidential Pokémon content in August.
The “Teraleak.” The incident, referred to by the community as the “Teraleak,” involved one of the largest content leaks in the Pokémon franchise in recent years. The leaked material included not just minor details or loose data, but also preview versions of titles currently in development and unreleased concept art. This highly sensitive information spread rapidly in an environment where virality is commonplace.
Nintendo’s legal actions. Polygon reports that Nintendo submitted a subpoena request to the District Court for the Northern District of California on April 18. In the request, the Japanese company demands that Discord provide the personal information of user GameFreakOUT, including their full name, address, phone number, and email address. The legal documents also contain a screenshot of the FreakLeak server, where the user shared the disputed materials.
According to Nintendo, the initial post was quickly followed by widespread dissemination of the content, despite Discord receiving multiple DMCA requests to remove it. However, by that point, the damage had already been done.
A familiar strategy with a clear message. This isn’t the first time Nintendo has taken legal action to protect its intellectual property. In recent years, the company has successfully shut down sites such as RomUniverse, LoveROMs, and LoveRetro. In 2024, it reached a $2.4 million out-of-court settlement that forced the developers of the Yuzu and Citra emulators to cease their operations. Additionally, GitHub removed 8,535 Yuzu-related forks.
Each of these actions has resulted in immediate shutdowns and significant financial compensation. With them, Nintendo has also issued a strongly resounding warning: leaking the company’s materials isn’t only risky but also legally dangerous.
Targeting Game Freak. The breach didn’t occur on Nintendo’s systems but rather on those of Game Freak, the Japanese studio responsible for developing Pokémon games. In an official press release, Game Freak acknowledged that the leak resulted from unauthorized access, which exposed more than 2,600 personal records. The company claims to have rebuilt the affected server and strengthened its security measures. However, this incident highlighted the vulnerability of certain infrastructures.
What now? The next steps depend on the federal court’s decision. If the court grants the subpoena and Discord complies, Nintendo will be able to identify individuals involved. Following that, the legal proceedings could involve several types of lawsuits, although there’s currently no concrete information about the company’s next actions. The real identity behind user GameFreakOUT may also come to light soon.
The industry is on alert. What’s at stake isn’t just individual identities, but also a significant precedent. With Nintendo’s relentless track record, the company is once again leading the way for other industry giants to follow. In a climate where leaks are proliferating on community servers and social media, the pressing issue isn’t whether these incidents will occur again. The real question is how those with something to lose will respond.
Images | Ivan Rudoy | Pokémon
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