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Once Were Nerd, an Italian YouTuber celebrated for diving deep into the world of retrogaming, is facing some serious heat. According to reports, he’s been accused of copyright infringement by Italy’s financial police, known as the Guardia di Finanza. The complaint stems from his reviews of Anbernic consoles, which allegedly incorporate unauthorized content from big names like Sony and Nintendo. This situation really brings to light the complicated landscape of copyright law in the gaming industry. What does this mean for content creators, and how far can they push the boundaries?
Details of the Allegations
The crux of the allegations against Once Were Nerd revolves around a potential violation of Article 171-ter of Italy’s copyright law, a statute that dates back to April 22, 1941. This law clearly prohibits the reproduction and distribution of copyrighted works for commercial use without the explicit consent of the rights holders. It raises an important question: how do you review gaming products that might include unlicensed content, without crossing legal lines?
In a video announcement, Once Were Nerd shared the unsettling details leading up to the lawsuit, including the seizure of his smartphone and around 30 handheld consoles during searches conducted by the authorities. To make matters worse, his communications with hardware manufacturers are also under scrutiny. It’s a tough position for any creator to find themselves in.
Anbernic is a well-known player in the realm of Chinese gaming consoles designed for emulation. These devices often come preloaded with microSD cards filled with games from various systems, including those from Nintendo and Sony. While the legality of such consoles sits in a murky gray area, they continue to thrive, likely due to the uphill battle of enforcing copyright laws against overseas manufacturers. Is it time for a clearer set of guidelines in the gaming industry?
The Impact on the YouTuber’s Channel
The immediate fallout for Once Were Nerd could be significant. He’s facing the real possibility of having his YouTube channel shut down, which would mean losing all his content. The penalties for the alleged copyright infringement are steep, with fines ranging from €2,582 to €15,493, and in the worst-case scenario, even imprisonment. To add insult to injury, he could also face a ban from professional activities related to his channel. How would you cope with such a drastic turn of events?
This case has sparked considerable chatter within the YouTube community, especially among creators producing similar gaming hardware content. Currently, Once Were Nerd appears to be the only one facing legal action in Italy over this issue, but it’s not hard to imagine others might soon find themselves in hot water too.
Ongoing Investigations and Community Reactions
As investigations unfold, it’s still unclear who kicked off the complaint against Once Were Nerd. This uncertainty has left many fellow creators on edge. Some, like Dr. Game, have already removed videos with similar content to steer clear of potential legal trouble. It’s a tough call to make—should creators play it safe or push the envelope?
AGGIORNAMENTO ORE 12:45 – There are reports suggesting that additional YouTube channels may also find themselves facing similar allegations, though no official statements have been released yet. The retrogaming community is keeping a close watch on this situation, as the ramifications could stretch far beyond just one creator.
AGGIORNAMENTO DEL 17/07/2025 – ORE 22:00 – New developments have surfaced, including screenshots of conversations between Once Were Nerd and his followers discussing the sale of used consoles loaded with pirated games. This evidence includes links he allegedly provided for downloading ROMs and instructions on setting up emulation consoles, which only adds fuel to the fire of this ongoing controversy. What does this mean for the future of content creation in the gaming niche?