A wave of fraudulent DMCA takedowns has targeted YouTubers who specialize in Nintendo games, threatening their channels and means of income. An individual impersonating a Nintendo legal representative has targeted popular creators.
Targeted creators face stress and uncertainty
Among the victims was renowned Let’s Play creator Dominik “Domtendo” Neumayer. His videos showcasing The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom” were taken down in September following DMCA claims.
The notices, signed by “Tatsumi Masaaki,” seemed to come from Nintendo’s legal team. Suspicions were raised, nevertheless, because the emails were sent from a private encrypted email account.
Even when he republished the videos following an initial challenge, Domtendo kept getting hostile letters requesting more removals. He voluntarily removed more videos as a result of these threats out of concern for possible legal repercussions.
A pattern of fraudulent claims
Other creators, such as Waikuteru and Rimea, reported similar experiences. The fraudster used spoofed Nintendo email addresses, making the claims appear legitimate. In one instance, the scammer used Nintendo of America President Doug Bowser’s name.
When creators contacted Nintendo directly, the company confirmed the emails were fake. Nintendo promised to look into the matter more, but it didn’t give those affected YouTubers any comfort.
Flaws in YouTube’s DMCA system
YouTube’s DMCA process has been criticized for its ease of abuse. Fake claims can be submitted through a public web form or via email, with minimal checks in place. YouTube acknowledged that more than 6% of DMCA requests may be false.
“Every idiot can strike every YouTuber,” Domtendo said, frustrated by the platform’s lax policies. YouTube allegedly gives preference to larger channels when evaluating allegations, which presents further challenges for smaller creators.
YouTube stated it has dedicated teams to detect abuse, but the platform’s response has been criticized as insufficient.
Even though the false allegations were eventually denied, the experience left the creators feeling anxious and uneasy about the future.
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By Gen Salinas 30 December 2024
