Nintendo has recently initiated legal proceedings against Genki, a well-known manufacturer of accessories that gained recognition in January 2025 at CES in Las Vegas. This lawsuit, filed on May 2, 2025, before a California court, accuses Genki of trademark infringement, unfair competition, and false advertising following the presentation by Genki of mock-ups (unofficial models) of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 at the world’s largest tech show. It is recalled that Genki had shown certain journalists a replica of the Nintendo Switch 2, claiming it was based on official dimensions, thereby spoiling the surprise of the machine’s announcement. Following this, Nintendo promptly responded by sending its lawyers to Genki’s booth, expressing dissatisfaction with this unauthorized presentation. Genki later admitted that its models were based on leaks rather than official information or prototypes provided by Nintendo.
In its complaint, Nintendo asserts that Genki’s use of its trademarks is likely to mislead consumers into believing that Genki’s products are authorized or endorsed by Nintendo, potentially harming Nintendo’s brand reputation. Nintendo requests the court to order Genki to cease selling products bearing its trademarks and to destroy all such products. Meanwhile, Genki maintains that it has not violated any rules, as it claims never to have signed a non-disclosure agreement with Nintendo, allowing it to freely develop accessories based on publicly available information. The company also stated that it will continue preparing its products for the launch of the Switch 2, scheduled for June 5, 2025. Genki has officially responded via a press release published on X (formerly Twitter).
Nintendo has recently filed a lawsuit against our company. We take this matter very seriously and are working closely with our legal team to provide a thoughtful response. Despite this development, we continue to prepare for fulfilling existing orders and presenting our new products at the PAX East show this week. Our focus remains on what we do best: designing hardware for players.
This case underscores Nintendo’s vigilance in protecting its intellectual property and controlling its brand image, especially as a major product launch approaches. It also highlights potential tensions between console manufacturers like Nintendo and third-party accessory developers such as Genki, who aim to anticipate market needs while navigating complex legal landscapes.