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Nintendo Files DMCA Subpoena to Identify "Teraleak" Pokémon Leaker

In a move that has left the gaming community on edge, Nintendo has filed a DMCA subpoena against Discord, demanding that the popular chat platform reveal the identity of the individual behind last year's highly publicized Pokémon "Teraleak" leak. The alleged leaker, known by their username GameFreakOUT, is believed to have hacked into the internal servers of Pokémon developer Game Freak and posted a staggering amount of data, including unreleased and upcoming work, as well as personal information about employees.

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The Teraleak: A Data Breach of Epic Proportions

In October 2024, GameFreakOUT uploaded an astonishing 1 terabyte of data to a Discord server called FeakLeak, which earned the nickname "Teraleak" due to its sheer scale and scope. The leak included sensitive information about upcoming projects such as Pokémon Legends: Z-A, minutes from a Pokémon Company meeting, concept art from the original 1997 anime, and even source code for the DS games Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver.

But what made this leak particularly egregious was that it compromised data on over 2,000 current and former employees of Game Freak. The company subsequently confirmed that employee details had been breached in August 2024.

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Nintendo's Request: A Subpoena to Reveal the Leaker's Identity

According to reports, Nintendo filed a request for a subpoena on April 18 in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. The subpoena seeks to compel Discord to reveal GameFreakOUT's name, address, phone number, and email address. This is not the first time Nintendo has taken a hardline stance against those it deems copyright infringers.

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A History of Aggressive Action

Nintendo is notorious for its aggressive pursuit of those who infringe on its intellectual property. The most famous case in recent years involves Gary Bowser, who was sentenced to 40 months in federal prison for selling modchips and jailbreaks used to circumvent Nintendo's security measures. He also had to pay Nintendo a total of $14.5 million.

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The Leaker's Fate: A Harsh Punishment Looms

Given the severity of the leak, including employee details and alleged hacking, it is likely that GameFreakOUT would face a harsher punishment if identified. The fact that Nintendo has taken steps to remove all existing copies of the leaked data from the internet suggests that they are serious about protecting their intellectual property.

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Consequences for the Leaker

While Nintendo has not specified what will happen if the subpoena is granted and GameFreakOUT's identity is revealed, it is safe to assume that they would face significant consequences. The fact that two Pokémon Sword and Shield leakers were taken to court in 2021 and forced to pay $150,000 each in damages and attorneys' fees suggests a pattern of aggressive enforcement.

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The Future of the Gaming Community

As the gaming community continues to grapple with the implications of this leak, one thing is clear: the consequences for those who engage in such behavior will be severe. The question on everyone's mind is what the future holds for GameFreakOUT and how Nintendo will respond if their identity is revealed.