Nintendo sues Genki over Switch 2 mockup and accessories shown before console's announcement

Nintendo has officially filed a lawsuit against accessory manufacturer Genki, accusing the company of trademark infringement, unfair competition, and false advertising. The reason for this was Genki's demonstration of Nintendo Switch 2 mock-ups and statements about the compatibility of its accessories with the new console before its official announcement.

Here's What We Know

The story began at CES 2025 in Las Vegas, where Genki attracted the attention of the public and the media by showing a 3D-printed model of Switch 2 and accessories that were supposedly ready for the new console. Videos and photos of the models quickly went viral, and Genki openly claimed to have "access to the console", even though Nintendo had not yet officially unveiled the device.

Nintendo's legal team responded quickly by visiting Genki's booth and demanding that the demonstration be stopped. Genki closed its exposition ahead of schedule, but the story did not end there: Nintendo filed a lawsuit in a federal court in California.

Nintendo claims that Genki intentionally took advantage of the hype around the Switch 2 to promote its own accessories, using the Nintendo Switch and Joy-Con trademarks without permission. In doing so, the company made contradictory statements, first claiming to have access to the actual console and then denying it. Nevertheless, Genki continued to advertise its products as compatible with Switch 2, which, according to Nintendo, misled consumers about the officialness and quality of the accessories.

Nintendo emphasises that it is impossible to guarantee the compatibility of accessories with the Switch 2 without access to the official device. Therefore, the company either falsely claimed its capabilities or obtained information illegally.

The Japanese giant is asking the court to ban Genki from using the name "Nintendo Switch" in its advertising, destroy all products and marketing materials that infringe on the copyrighted material, and compensate for the damage caused to the brand. Nintendo also insists on treble damages for each case of infringement.

This case once again emphasises how closely Nintendo monitors its intellectual property and does not tolerate even hints of unauthorised use of the brand.

As a reminder, Nintendo Switch 2 is officially released on 5 June for $450.

Source: Courtlistener