Legal Troubles for Italian YouTuber Once Were Nerd
There are countless Android-powered gaming handhelds on the market, but some are facing legal issues due to the inclusion of game ROMs that may not be entirely legal. Italian YouTuber Once Were Nerd recently found himself in hot water when agents from Italy’s Guardia di Finanza showed up at his door to confiscate his consoles.
Once Were Nerd, known for his YouTube content covering various gaming topics, including Android-based handheld game machines, has been showcasing devices with built-in emulation support for retro consoles like SNES, Nintendo 64, and more. These devices have gained popularity due to their affordability, offering a modernized gaming experience for 0 or less.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance in Italy, responsible for enforcing copyright laws, took notice of Once Were Nerd’s coverage of Anbernic handheld game consoles. While emulation software itself is not illegal, the issue arises when these devices come pre-loaded with copyrighted ROMs, including games from Sony and Nintendo.
Once Were Nerd is now facing potential criminal charges and the possibility of his channel being shut down as a result of the investigation. It serves as a reminder of the legal implications of promoting pirated materials, even in the realm of gaming content creation.
