In 2001, the National Board of Intelligence raided four retail shops and a warehouse, seizing seven truck loads of counterfeit Nintendo video game products in Montevideo. Approximately 30,000 counterfeit Nintendo products were confiscated and valued at over one million US dollars. The seizure was reportedly the largest carried out in Uruguay of counterfeit video game products. A principal owner was identified for both the retail shops and the warehouse. Following the seizure, the owner was criminally charged with trademark counterfeiting. Curiously, the criminal trial ended in 2003 with the granting of an unexplained executive pardon or "gracia".
Nintendo also filed a civil action claiming he was selling and distributing counterfeit Nintendo products on a large scale and obtaining sizeable profits. Clearly Nintendo does not want their good name tarnished by the existence of counterfeit goods.
This action exemplifies Nintendo's commitment to combat the international problem of product piracy. These types of illegal operations simply will not be tolerated and Nintendo will do everything in its power to protect its business and its customers."
says Jodi Daugherty, senior director, anti-piracy, Nintendo of America.
source - Nintendo of America