Nintendo Targets Picofly Switch Modchip Firmware in GitHub DMCA Takedown

Nintendo has sent GitHub a DMCA takedown notice targeting 144 repositories containing Nintendo Switch modchip firmware, according to GoNintendo. The affected projects include Picofly, SX Core, and HWFLY, as reported by Tom's Hardware. Some older Nintendo Switch units require a modchip to be soldered onto them to take advantage of an exploit, and those modchips require firmware, which GoNintendo said Nintendo is trying to remove from online archives. In the takedown notice, Nintendo said the firmware "allows Nintendo Switch modchips to illegally circumvent Nintendo's TPMs in order to run illegal copies of Nintendo Switch games." Nintendo also said the modchip firmware "circumvents the technological protection measures put in place on the Nintendo Switch console by bypassing the boot sequence." The company stated that this "constitutes unlawful trafficking in technology that is 'primarily designed or produced for the purpose of circumventing a technological measure that effectively controls access' to copyrighted works." Kotaku reported that the takedowns wiped over 200 Nintendo Switch projects off GitHub, while TechPowerUp put the number of modchip firmware repositories taken down at 144. Tom's Hardware said the action follows Nintendo's criminal trial victory. GoNintendo said it will keep tracking the situation to see if any further steps are taken, including legal proceedings.