Recently, Nintendo had been cracking down on several intellectual property infringements, both alleged and actual. Nintendo verified with their customers that copyright piracy is forbidden, and any unlicensed usage of their intellectual properties, which includes Nintendo music uploaded on YouTube, fan games, Mario Kart hacks and Super Smash Bros Ultimate character skin mods, do not meet the requirements of fair use. The resulting internet backlash was so severe that some people called for a boycott of Nintendo on social media.
However, all of this may have something to do with Japan's copyright regulations getting stricter, possibly leading to a gradual phasing out fair use and fair dealing. This had been happening since 2009 and is nothing new.
If you are living in Japan, this is a fair warning about the shambolic state of Japan Inc amid the recent scandals. Do something more honorable by buying from ethical companies and turning away from unethical ones.
Nintendo characters and games © Nintendo.
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