Ludwig claim he was sued by Nintendo over Super Smash Bros. tournament

Popular YouTuber Ludwig Ahgren made a shocking revelation in his YouTube video, claiming that Nintendo sent him a cease and desist notice a few months ago for using a modified version of Nintendo’s game in his event.

A new set of guidelines posted by Nintendo has prompted Ludwig to make some shocking revelations about his legal encounter with the Japanese company. Although the legal scuffle mentioned by Ludwing has nothing to do with the new guidelines, it has far-reaching implications for the Super Smash Bros. tournament scene.

Ludwig’s legal ordeal with Nintendo:

The legal dispute hinges on Ludwig Ahgren’s Super Smash Bros. tournaments, the “Ludwig Ahgren Championship Series”, which he decided to host after Nintendo canceled the official Smash World Tour. The tournament series, which featured the classic Super Smash Bros. Melee title, gained immense popularity in the gaming community but it was not all smooth sailing for Ludwig.

For his event, Ludwig considered utilizing a tweaked version of the Super Smash Bros. Melee stage. Even though he merely intended to utilize the modified version to eliminate the random transformations and level the playing field for competitors, Nintendo’s legal team took notice of this move and sent him the legal notice.

Ludwig referred to the gaming company’s Notice of Infringement of Intellectual Property as a “baby stop and desist” notice. Ludwig received a very clear warning from the gaming giant: quit using the altered stage and adhere to their rules, which called for hosting the tournament using the original game. Ludwig was hesitant to provide the evidence for his claims since it contained his address.

While he doesn’t go into great length about it, he does use it as a springboard to discuss Nintendo’s stringent new regulations regarding community tournaments. A few days ago, Nintendo imposed strict regulations that affected not only Ludwig but other tournament organizers as well.

These rules required the use of legally licensed accessories, capped prize money, and limited the number of players. Concerned about the effects of the new guidelines on diversity, accessibility, and viability of community events, the competitive gaming community retaliated against Nintendo’s new regulations.

Nintendo hasn’t exactly been the best at assisting the Super Smash Bros. community’s grassroots initiatives. The Japanese company was embroiled in a heated legal battle with professional gamers and the tournament organizers towards the end of last year concerning the canceled Smash World Tour event. Furthermore, Nintendo has released new guidelines for content creators that are centered around its games and content.

Header: Ludwig