Capcom, Nintendo, 53 other publishers suing makers of R4 cartridges

A Flash cartridge that can be used to store pirated Nintendo DS games has publishers up in arms and a group of them are suing the companies that make the devices.

Nintendo, Capcom and 53 other publishers are taking legal action under Japan’s Unfair Competition Prevention Act, targeting four companies that make the R4 cartridges.

In February 2009, Tokyo District Court placed an injunction on the cart manufacturers making it illegal to sell R4s in Japan. But, as is often the case with legal issues, a court saying people can’t have something hasn’t stopped people from getting it.

The setup is almost comical. Countless retailers in Japan’s Akihabara electronics district stock the R4 but, because of the legal heat, clerks have been forbidden from discussing exactly what it does. Also, there has been another company making a pirated version of the chip primarily used for pirating. Sigh.

Because the R4 is still a fixture in electronic stores, the publishers are keeping the legal pressure on and likely paying a pretty penny to do so. Capcom said in a statement that vendors have “continued to ignore our warnings” and “did not show any sincere response.” As the battle between publishers and pirates continues, Nintendo has gone so far as to enlist help from its customers.

Nintendo has posted a web form (in Japanese) that can be filled out anonymously should you want to report anyone selling the gadgets.

Read [Gamasutra] Via [Videogamer.com]