Court File No.

T-245-16

FEDERAL COURT
B E T W E E N:

NINTENDO OF AMERICA INC.

Applicant

-and-

JERAMIE DOUGLAS KING and

GO CYBER SHOPPING (2005) LTD.

Respondents

SUPPLEMENTAL WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS

OF NINTENDO OF AMERICA INC.

SMART & BIGGAR

Barristers & Solicitors
1100 150 York Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5H 3S5

Mark G. Biernacki
Kevin P. Siu

Tel: (416) 593-5514

Fax: (416) 590-1690

Solicitors for the Applicant

 Court File No. T-245-16

FEDERAL COURT

BETWEEN:

NINTENDO OF AMERICA INC.

Applicant

- and -

JERAMIE DOUGLAS KING and

GO CYBER SHOPPING (2005) LTD.

Respondents

SUPPLEMENTAL WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS

OF NINTENDO OF AMERICA INC.
 -1-

1. The present Application concerns the circumvention of technological protection

measures (TPMs), infringement of copyright, and the measure of statutory damages

under the Copyright Act, RSC 1985, c C-42 (the Act). Many of the issues raised in

this Application are novel.

2. The Applicant, Nintendo of America Inc., seeks, inter alia, a declaration that

the Respondent, Go Cyber Shopping (2005) Ltd., has circumvented, offered services

to circumvent, and trafficked in devices which circumvent the Applicants TPMs

contrary to s. 41.1(1)(a)-(c) of the Act, and that the Respondent has infringed the

Applicants copyright in certain works contrary to s. 27(2) of the Act.

3. If the Respondent is liable for circumvention and/or infringement under the Act,

the Applicant seeks statutory damages under s. 38.1 of the Act, its costs, as well as an

injunction restraining the Respondent from further infringement and circumvention.

4. The Applicant also sought a declaration of infringement under ss. 19 and 20 the

Trade-marks Act, RSC 1985, c T-13. However, at the hearing of this Application, the

Applicant discontinued these claims.

5. Accordingly, the issues for determination are whether the Respondent is liable

under the asserted provisions of the Act, and if so, the appropriate remedies.

6. Several procedural issues should be noted. Before concluding the hearing of

this Application, the Applicant and individual Respondent, Jeramie Douglas King
 -2-

(King), reached a settlement agreement on all issues, including liability and

quantum of damages, which will be the subject of a separate consent order.

7. However, the Applicant maintained all its claims against the corporate

Respondent, Go Cyber Shopping (2005) Ltd. (herein referred to in the singular as the

Respondent). The contested issues between the two parties remain to be dealt with,

as discussed below. Further, following settlement between the Applicant and Mr.

King, the Respondent advised the Court that it would rely solely on its written

representations and declined to make any further oral submissions.

I. Facts and Evidence

A. The burden of proof and Respondents failure to adduce evidence

8. It is trite law that the party asserting a cause of action bears the burden of

proving each required element of the cause of action, while a party raising an

affirmative defence bears the burden of proving all the elements of the defence.

9. A party may choose not to lead evidence on any issue and elect to argue that the

cause of action has not been proven on a balance of probabilities. However, an

adverse inference may be drawn from a partys failure to lead evidence that was in its

power to produce: R v Jolivet, [2000] 1 SCR 751 at 766.

10. The Applicant adduced affidavit evidence from three witnesses. None were

cross examined.
 -3-

11. The Respondent did not lead any evidence, despite filing a Memorandum of

Fact and Law raising certain affirmative defences and arguments regarding the

quantum of damages.

12. Accordingly, the Applicants evidence stands uncontradicted and unchallenged.

13. The central question for the asserted causes of action is whether each required

element has been established. The effect of the Respondents lack of evidence will be

further addressed below.

B. The Parties

14. The Applicant, Nintendo of America Inc., is a famous video game company. It

sells and distributes popular and well-known video games and video game consoles

in Canada. The popularity and success of its video games are a result of substantial

innovation, creativity, and financial investment into product development, intellectual

property, and marketing. Each of the Applicants video games can take years and

millions of dollars to develop (First Affidavit of Dylan Rhoads, Rhoads 1,

Applicants Record, pp. 82-83).

15. The Respondent, Go Cyber Shopping (2005) Ltd., is a registered Ontario

corporation. It operates a retail location in Waterloo, Ontario and several commercial

websites including www.gocybershopping.com and www.gocybershop.ca. The

Respondent also appears to carry on business under the name Modchip Central Ltd.

(which is neither a registered corporation nor business name) through the same retail
 -4-

location and through the website www.modchipcentral.com (Affidavit of Robert

Hunter, Hunter, Applicants Record, pp. 1088-1091).

16. King is the sole director and officer of the corporate Respondent (Hunter,

Applicants Record, pp. 1111-1113).

C. The Applicants video game products

17. The Applicant sells video game consoles in Canada. At issue in this Application

are the handheld video game consoles known as the Nintendo DS and 3DS, and the

Wii home video game console.

18. The Applicant also sells hundreds of video games for its consoles in Canada.

These video games are sold as game cards (in the case of DS and 3DS games) and

discs (in the case of Wii games). Purchasers of genuine Nintendo video games can

play these games on the appropriate Nintendo console by inserting the game card or

disc into the corresponding console. The Applicant does not and has never authorized

downloading of its games onto devices that mimic its game cards or discs and which

circumvent its TPMs (Rhoads 1, Applicants Record, p. 83).

D. The Applicants copyrights

19. There are two types of copyrighted works at issue in this Application: computer

code and data used by the Applicant as part of its TPMs (Header Data) and the

video games developed for the Applicants video game consoles (Nintendo

Games).
 -5-

(i) Copyright in Header Data

20. The Header Data consist of three works in which the Applicant has registered

copyright:

Reg. No. Title Short Title

1,051,042 NINTENDO DS BOOT CODE (a.k.a. DS Header Data
NINTENDO DS HEADER CODE)
1,094,948 NINTENDO 3DS STARTUP 3DS Header Data
SEQUENCE
1,110,536 GAME BOY ADVANCE BOOT Nintendo Logo Data
CODE WITH NINTENDO LOGO File
DATA FILE

21. Each genuine game card sold by the Applicant contains two of the Header Data

works. Authorized DS game cards each contain a copy of the DS Header Data and the

Nintendo Logo Data File. Authorized 3DS game cards each contain a copy of the

3DS Header Data and the Nintendo Logo Data File.

22. The Header Data works serve two relevant functions for the purpose of this

Application.

23. First, the Header Data contains code that represents the Applicants logos,

which are used by the Nintendo DS and 3DS consoles to display the logos on the

screen when the device is turned on with a genuine game card inserted.

24. Second, the Header Data is used by the Nintendo DS and 3DS consoles as part

of the Applicants TPM system. In particular, the Header Data must be present on an

inserted game card (whether genuine or not) in order for the Nintendo DS or 3DS

console to play a video game (Rhoads 1, Applicants Record, pp. 82-89).

 -6-

(ii) Copyright in Nintendo Games

25. The Applicant also owns copyright in 585 video game works. Copyrights in

217 of the Nintendo Games are registered in Canada. These video game works

include, for example, the New Super Mario Bros. and Pokemon X (Rhoads 1,

Applicants Record, p. 98; Rhoads 2, Applicants Record, pp. 920-921).

26. Copyrights in the remaining 368 Nintendo Games are not registered in Canada

but are registered in the United States. By virtue of the Berne Convention for the

Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1886), 828 UNTS 221 and s. 5 of the

Copyright Act, these copyrighted works are also subject to copyright protection in

Canada (Rhoads 1, Applicants Record, pp. 98, 359-363).

27. The Respondent does not challenge the subsistence or ownership by the

Applicant of the asserted copyrights.

E. The Applicants technological protection measures

28. The popularity of the Applicants video game systems have made it a target of

intellectual property pirates who benefit from the Applicants investments by

making unauthorized copies of its video games or by creating means to enable users

to play such unauthorized copies of its video games on its consoles (Rhoads 1,

Applicants Record, p. 83).

29. To prevent or deter these activities, the Applicant employs measures on its

video game systems to protect and control access to its copyrighted works. The
 -7-

Applicants measures prevent users from playing unauthorized copies of video games

and from installing unauthorized software, including counterfeit games and software,

on its consoles (Rhoads 1, Applicants Record, p. 84).

30. On the Nintendo DS and 3DS consoles, the Applicant uses at least three distinct

measures to control access to its copyrighted works (Rhoads 1, Applicants Record,

pp. 84-94):

a. Physical Configuration: the Applicants DS and 3DS game cards utilize

a specific shape, size, and arrangement of electrical connections designed

specifically for use with each respective console;

b. Boot up Security Checks: the Applicants DS and 3DS game cards

contain the copyrighted Header Data described above, that the console

checks to confirm are present and identical to reference copies stored on

the consolefailure to pass the security check prevents users from

accessing and playing any Nintendo Game stored on the game card; and

c. Encryption and Scrambling: the Applicants DS and 3DS game cards

and DS and 3DS consoles contain technology to encrypt and scramble

communications between the console and game card.

31. On the Wii console, the Applicant uses at least two distinct measures to control

access to its copyrighted works (Rhoads 2, Applicants Record, pp. 921-923):

 -8-

a. Format TPM: a proprietary unique data format designed to be used only

on Wii discs; and

b. Wii Copy Protection Code: a code on Wii game discs which cannot be

copied using commercially available tools and which must be present in

order for users to access a Nintendo Game.

F. The Respondents activities and devices

32. Since at least 2013, the Respondent has advertised and offered for sale, either

through its websites or at its retail store, certain devices which the Applicant contends

are designed to circumvent TPMs employed on the Applicants Nintendo DS, 3DS,

and Wii gaming consoles (Hunter, Applicants Record, pp. 1090-1096).

33. The Applicant uses the term Game Copiers to refer to such devices. The

Applicant takes issue with the following models of Game Copiers sold by the

Respondent:

a. R4i 3DS

b. R4 Revolution R4DS

c. R4 Gold

d. SuperCard DSTWO

e. Sky3DS
 -9-

f. Gateway 3DS

g. Acekard2i

h. CycloDS iEvolution

i. DSTTi

j. iEdge

34. A user in possession of a Game Copier can use it to play unauthorized copies of

Nintendo DS or 3DS video games in the following manner (Rhoads 1, Applicants

Record, p. 93):

a. a user downloads an illegal copy of a DS or 3DS game from the internet in

a computer file format commonly known as ROMs;

b. the user saves the ROM onto a memory card;

c. the user inserts the memory card into the Game Copier;

d. the Game Copier is inserted into the game card slot in the DS or 3DS

console;

e. when the Nintendo DS or 3DS is switched on, the Game Copier mimicks a

genuine game card (using copies of the Header Data and

encryption/scrambling circuitry) and enables the DS or 3DS console to

 - 10 -

access the illegally copied ROM on the memory card and play the pirated

copy of the Nintendo Game.

35. The Respondent also offers for sale certain devices, referred to as mod chips,

which the Applicant contends are designed to circumvent TPMs employed on the Wii

console.

36. Mod chips generally operate by modifying the firmware of the Wii consoles

disc drive or by disabling certain security routines. Mod chips are usually installed as

an after-market internal component on a Wii console. Installation may require

disassembling the console and removing components. Mod chips may also be sold in

kits along with other components such as hard drives. (Rhoads 2, Applicants Record,

p. 922-923).

37. Mod chips allow users to play unauthorized copies of Wii video games, such as

pirated copies downloaded from the internet. For example, users may download

unauthorized copies of video games from the internet onto hard drives. When these

hard drives are connected to a modded Wii console, the mod chip allows the user to

access the pirated video games without owning a genuine Wii game disc (Rhoads 2,

Applicants Record, 923-925).

38. The Applicant takes issue with the following models of mod chips, kits, and

related tools sold by the Respondent:

a. Wiikey 2
 - 11 -

b. Wode Jukebox v2.0

c. Wiikey Fusion

d. DriveKey Wii Modchip

e. Wasabi DX Wii Modchip

f. Solderless Wiikey2

g. Wasabi Zero Wii Modchip

h. Premodded D2C/D2E drive

i. D2Pro SPI Flash Quicksolder

j. DriveKey Programmer

k. Infectus JTAG/Argon Programmer

39. In addition to selling mod chips, the Respondent also offers mod chip

installation services online and at its retail store, whereby a customer may drop off a

Wii console to be modded (i.e., installed) with a mod chip (Affidavit of Gavin

Phillips, Applicants Record, pp. 1075-1077).

 - 12 -

G. The Respondents websites and social media

40. The Respondent actively promotes its activities through social media. These

include product announcements, discussions on social media regarding the status of

new product shipments, and taking pre-orders for next generation devices (Hunter,

Applicants Record, pp. 1191-1199).

41. On its websites, the Respondent provides various descriptions of its products.

For example, it describes the Sky3DS as a device that can play 3DS ROMs on

ALL 3DS versions [] the Sky3DS card works and plays 3DS backups, and like a

genuine game! (Hunter, Applicants Record, pp. 1187).

42. The Respondent also provides an FAQ for the Sky3DS, providing a

compatible game list, instructions on how to build Header Data, and mentions

examples of the Applicants Nintendo Games such as Animal Crossing and Pokemon

X and Y (Hunter, Applicants Record, pp. 1187-1189).

H. Other facts regarding the Respondent

43. In its written submissions, the Respondent asserts certain facts, such as offering

other legitimate services and the relatively small size of its business, in support of

certain affirmative defences. However, since the Respondent has adduced no

evidence in support of these assertions, they are unsubstantiated and do nothing to

satisfy the Respondents burden on its affirmative defences.

 - 13 -

II. Issues

44. During the course of submissions, the issues have been narrowed. The

remaining issues for determination are:

a. Has the Respondent infringed the Applicants copyrights contrary to s.

27(2) of the Act?

b. Has the Respondent contravened the anti-circumvention provisions under

s. 41.1(1) of the Act?

c. If so, what remedies are appropriate?

III. Analysis

A. S. 27(2): Secondary copyright infringement

45. Section 27 of the Copyright Act defines copyright infringement as follows:

Infringement generally

27 (1) It is an infringement of copyright for any person to do,

without the consent of the owner of the copyright, anything that by
this Act only the owner of the copyright has the right to do.

Secondary infringement

(2) It is an infringement of copyright for any person to

(a) sell or rent out,

(b) distribute to such an extent as to affect prejudicially the

owner of the copyright,
 - 14 -

(c) by way of trade distribute, expose or offer for sale or rental,

or exhibit in public,

(d) possess for the purpose of doing anything referred to in

paragraphs (a) to (c), or

(e) import into Canada for the purpose of doing anything

referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c),

a copy of a work, sound recording or fixation of a performers

performance or of a communication signal that the person knows or
should have known infringes copyright or would infringe copyright
if it had been made in Canada by the person who made it.

46. The Supreme Court in CCH Canadian Ltd v Law Society of Upper Canada,

2004 SCC 13 [CCH] at para. 81 set out the following three-part test for establishing

secondary infringement: (1) the copy must be the product of primary infringement;

(2) the secondary infringer must have known or should have known that he or she is

dealing with a product of infringement; and (3) the secondary dealing must be

established within one of the enumerated acts in s. 27(2).

47. The Applicant contends that the Respondent infringes its copyright in the three

Header Data works contrary to s. 27(2), in that: (1) unauthorized copies of the works

are either contained on Game Copiers when they are sold or are obtained by

following the instructions provided by the Respondent; (2) the Respondent knew,

ought to have known, or was wilfully blind to the fact that the Game Copiers

contained such works; and (3) the Respondent sold, distributed, offered for sale, and

possessed the Game Copiers for the purpose of those activities.

 - 15 -

48. In support of this cause of action, the Applicant adduced evidence of testing for

three models of Game Copiers purchased from the Respondents online store (Rhoads

1, Applicants Record, pp. 95-97).

49. In its defence, the Respondent contends that the impugned devices are

fundamentally blank discs. Nonetheless, the Respondent admits infringement of

one of the three Header Data works, namely, the DS Header Data. However, the

Respondent denies infringing the other two works, namely, the Nintendo Logo Data

File and the 3DS Header Data (Respondents Memorandum of Fact and Law, paras.

39-45).

50. With respect to the Nintendo Logo Data File, the Respondent asserts that it

does not infringe because it does not sell any devices for use with the Game Boy

Advance System (Respondents Memorandum of Fact and Law, para. 45).

51. This implies that the Nintendo Logo Data File is only used on devices sold for

the Game Boy Advance System. However, that is not supported by the evidence. The

evidence clearly establishes that an unauthorized copy of the Nintendo Logo Data

File is present on the devices sold by the Respondent for use on DS consoles (Rhoads

1, Applicants Record, pp. 85, 95). This satisfies the first element of the test for

secondary infringement.

52. The second element of the secondary infringement test may be inferred from

the Respondents admission of infringement in respect of the DS Header Data. Given

that the Respondent admits knowing that its Game Copiers contain unauthorized
 - 16 -

copies of the DS Header Data, it is reasonable to infer that it knows, or ought to

know, that its Game Copiers similarly contain unauthorized copies of the Nintendo

Logo Data File.

53. As for the third element, there is no dispute that the Respondent sells Game

Copiers.

54. Accordingly, the Respondent also infringes copyright in the Nintendo Logo

Data File contrary to s. 27(2).

55. With respect to the 3DS Header Data, the Respondent asserts that the work is

not present on the Sky3DS device when it is sold. The Applicant does not assert

otherwise. Indeed, the evidence establishes that a template file containing the 3DS

Header Data work must be downloaded from a third party website to provide the

Sky3DS device with its functionality (Rhoads 1, Applicants Record, p. 97).

56. Nonetheless, the evidence also shows that the third party website for

downloading the 3DS Header Data is listed on the packaging of the Sky3DS device

sold by the Respondent. Moreover, the Respondents website directs users to

instructions on how to obtain the file containing the copyrighted 3DS Header Data

work (Applicants Record, pp. 97, 1186-1188).

57. This is sufficient to establish the existence of primary infringement. Subsection

3(1) of the Copyright Act gives the copyright owner the sole right to produce or

reproduce the work or any substantial part thereof in any material form whatever []
 - 17 -

and to authorize any such acts. In Apple Computer Inc v Mackintosh Computers Ltd

(1986), 10 CPR (3d) 1 (FCTD) [Apple FC], affd (1987), 18 CPR 129 (FCA), affd

[1990] 2 SCR 209, this Court held at p. 46:

Insofar as copyright infringement is concerned a person infringes by

virtue of subsection 17(1) [now s. 27] and section 3, if they
authorize or purport to authorize the doing of any act which is
reserved to the owner of the copyright. Authorize has been defined
by the jurisprudence as meaning sanction, approve, and
countenance [Falcon v. Famous Players Film Co., [1926] 2 K.B.
474 at p. 491].

58. Thus, the Respondents authorization of infringing acts by providing its

customers with instructions on how to copy the 3DS Header Data is sufficient to meet

the first element of the secondary infringement test.

59. Further, by authorizing the infringing acts, it may be inferred that the

Respondent had actual or constructive knowledge of the infringement. Alternatively,

the Respondent had notice of such facts that would have led a reasonable person to

think that a breach of copyright was being committed, which is sufficient to establish

the second element of secondary infringement (Apple FC at pp. 47-48).

60. The Respondent does not dispute offering for sale and selling the Sky3DS

device.

61. Accordingly, the Respondent has also infringed the Applicants copyright in the

3DS Header Data work contrary to s. 27(2) of the Act.

 - 18 -

B. S. 41.1(1): Circumvention of Technological Protection Measures

62. The Applicant relies on the provisions prohibiting circumvention of TPMs

under ss. 41 and 41.1 of the Act.

63. Parliament introduced these provisions into the Copyright Act in 2012, under

the Copyright Modernization Act, SC 2012, c 20. In over four years since their

enactment, this Court has yet to consider and apply these provisions. Under the

circumstances, a brief summary of the legislative background is warranted.

64. The Summary section of the Copyright Modernization Act provides that:

This enactment amends the Copyright Act to

(a) update the rights and protections of copyright owners to better

address the challenges and opportunities of the Internet, so as to be
in line with international standards; []

(c) permit businesses, educators and libraries to make greater use of

copyright material in digital form; []

(g) ensure that it remains technologically neutral; [].

65. Parliament evidently considered TPMs to be an important tool to achieve its

stated goals. The Preamble of the Copyright Modernization Act states:

Whereas the Copyright Act is an important marketplace

framework law and cultural policy instrument that, through clear,
predictable and fair rules, supports creativity and innovation and
affects many sectors of the knowledge economy;

Whereas advancements in and convergence of the information

and communications technologies that link communities around the
 - 19 -

world present opportunities and challenges that are global in scope

for the creation and use of copyright works or other subject-matter;

Whereas in the current digital era copyright protection is

enhanced when countries adopt coordinated approaches, based on
internationally recognized norms;

Whereas those norms are reflected in the World Intellectual

Property Organization Copyright Treaty and the World Intellectual
Property Organization Performances and Phonograms Treaty,
adopted in Geneva in 1996;

Whereas those norms are not wholly reflected in the Copyright

Act;

Whereas the exclusive rights in the Copyright Act provide rights

holders with recognition, remuneration and the ability to assert their
rights, and some limitations on those rights exist to further enhance
users access to copyright works or other subject-matter;

Whereas the Government of Canada is committed to enhancing

the protection of copyright works or other subject-matter, including
through the recognition of technological protection measures, in a
manner that promotes culture and innovation, competition and
investment in the Canadian economy;

And whereas Canadas ability to participate in a knowledge

economy driven by innovation and network connectivity is fostered
by encouraging the use of digital technologies for research and
education; [].

[Emphasis added.]

66. Contemporaneous papers authored by the Government of Canada also set out

the rationale for protecting TPMs (Government of Canada, What the New Copyright

Modernization Act Says About Digital Locks, Fact Sheet on Bill C-11, as

reproduced in Barry Sookman, Computer, Internet and Electronic Commerce Law,

loose-leaf, (Toronto: Carswell, 2016), ch 3.10 at 38-39):

 - 20 -

Innovative companies, such as video game developers, will have the

legal tools to protect the investments they have made in order to
reinvest in future innovation and jobs.

Protecting digital locks gives copyright industries the certainty they

need to roll out new products and services, such as online
subscription services, software and video games, if they choose to
use this technology. Not only will this promote investment and
growth in Canadas digital economy, it will also encourage the
introduction of innovative online services that offer access to
content. Such services are increasingly available in other countries.

The Bill recognizes that certain protections, such as restricted

content on news websites or locked video games, are important tools
for copyright owners to protect their digital works and are often an
important part of online and digital business models.

Introducing legal protections for digital locks brings Canada in line

with international partners, as it is one of the requirements of the
World Intellectual Property Organization Internet treaties.

While the music industry has moved away from digital locks on
CDs, they continue to be used in many online music services.
Software producers, the video game industry and movie distributors
also continue to use digital locks to protect their investments.
Canadian jobs depend on their ability to make a return on their
investment. Businesses that choose to use digital locks as part of
their business models will have the protection of the law.

[Emphasis added.]

67. S. 41 of the Copyright Act defines technological protection measure and

circumvention as follows:

technological protection measure means any effective technology,

device or component that, in the ordinary course of its operation,

(a) controls access to a work, to a performers performance

fixed in a sound recording or to a sound recording and whose
use is authorized by the copyright owner; or

(b) restricts the doing with respect to a work, to a

performers performance fixed in a sound recording or to a
 - 21 -

sound recording of any act referred to in section 3, 15 or 18

and any act for which remuneration is payable under section 19.
(mesure technique de protection)

circumvent means,

(a) in respect of a technological protection measure within the

meaning of paragraph (a) of the definition technological
protection measure, to descramble a scrambled work or decrypt
an encrypted work or to otherwise avoid, bypass, remove,
deactivate or impair the technological protection measure,
unless it is done with the authority of the copyright owner; and

(b) in respect of a technological protection measure within the

meaning of paragraph (b) of the definition technological
protection measure, to avoid, bypass, remove, deactivate or
impair the technological protection measure. (contourner)

68. The Applicant relies on paragraph (a) of each definition, which relate to TPMs

used to control access to copyrighted works (access control TPMs). The definitions

under paragraphs (b), which relate to TPMs used to restrict infringing acts

(sometimes referred to as copy control TPMs), are not at issue in the present

Application, but are provided for context and assist in statutory interpretation below.

69. The prohibited acts respecting TPMs are set out in s. 41.1(1) of the Act:

Prohibition

41.1 (1) No person shall

(a) circumvent a technological protection measure within the

meaning of paragraph (a) of the definition technological
protection measure in section 41;

(b) offer services to the public or provide services if

(i) the services are offered or provided primarily for the

purposes of circumventing a technological protection
measure,
 - 22 -

(ii) the uses or purposes of those services are not

commercially significant other than when they are
offered or provided for the purposes of circumventing a
technological protection measure, or

(iii) the person markets those services as being for the

purposes of circumventing a technological protection
measure or acts in concert with another person in order
to market those services as being for those purposes; or

(c) manufacture, import, distribute, offer for sale or rental or

provide including by selling or renting any technology,
device or component if

(i) the technology, device or component is designed or

produced primarily for the purposes of circumventing a
technological protection measure,

(ii) the uses or purposes of the technology, device or

component are not commercially significant other than
when it is used for the purposes of circumventing a
technological protection measure, or

(iii) the person markets the technology, device or

component as being for the purposes of circumventing a
technological protection measure or acts in concert with
another person in order to market the technology, device
or component as being for those purposes.

70. The Act also provides certain exceptions to s. 41.1(1), such as s. 41.12

(interoperability of computer programs). These are further discussed below.

71. The framework of the Act therefore requires the Court to consider the following

questions: (1) whether the Applicants technology, device, or component is a TPM

within the definition of s. 41; (2) whether the Respondent has engaged in

circumvention activities prohibited by s. 41.1(1); and, if raised, (3) whether any

exception applies.
 - 23 -

(i) The Applicants TPMs

72. The Applicant submits that each of its measures described above are

technological protection measures within the meaning of the Act.

73. The Applicant relies on the broad definition of technological protection

measures in s. 41, which covers any effective technology, device or component.

The open-ended language of this definition reflects Parliaments intention to

empower copyright owners to protect their business models with any technological

tool at their disposal.

74. The Applicant also relies on the principle of technological neutrality to argue

that apart from being effective, there is no basis to discriminate against any

particular type of technology, device, or component, such as physical configuration.

As the Supreme Court noted in Canadian Broadcasting Corporation v SODRAC

2003 Inc, 2015 SCC 57 at para 66:

The principle of technological neutrality is recognition that, absent

parliamentary intent to the contrary, the Copyright Act should not be
interpreted or applied to favour or discriminate against any particular
form of technology. It is derived from the balancing of user and
right-holder interests discussed by this Court in Thberge [Thberge
v Galerie dArt du Petit Champlain inc, 2002 SCC 34] a balance
between promoting the public interest in the encouragement and
dissemination of works of the arts and intellect and obtaining a just
reward for the creator: para. 30. Because this long-standing
principle informs the Copyright Act as a whole, it must be
maintained across all technological contexts: The traditional
balance between authors and users should be preserved in the digital
environment. . . (ESA [Entertainment Software Association v
Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada,
2012 SCC 34], at para. 8).

[Emphasis added.]
 - 24 -

75. The Respondent disputes that the Physical Configuration of the Applicants

DS and 3DS game cards is a TPM within the meaning of the Act. The Respondent is

silent with respect to whether the Applicants Boot up Security Check and

Encryption/Scrambling technologies constitute TPMs, but implicitly admits that the

Applicants Format TPM and Wii Copy Protection Code constitute TPMs, by

admitting circumvention (discussed below).

76. The Respondent submits that, in the context of being a protection measure, an

access control TPM must create a barrier to the work being copied. Thus, the

Respondent argues, the shape of the Applicants game cartridges fails to meet the

statutory requirement of a TPM because it does not establish a barrier to copying.

77. The Respondent relies on the English High Court of Justice decision in

Nintendo Co Ltd et al v Playables Ltd et al, [2010] EWHC 1932 (Ch), which was an

application for summary judgment regarding the applicability of the effective

technological measure (ETM) provisions under the UK Copyright Designs and

Patents Act 1988. The Game Copiers at issue in that case are similar to the ones at

issue in the present Application. The Respondent cites Floyd J. at para. 23:

The first question is whether the Nintendo DS system has ETM. I

have to say that I nurture some doubts about whether the physical
shape and electrical characteristics of the connector amount to ETM.
It is true that in order to copy a work onto the console one needs to
make a device capable of being so connected. But it seems to me to
be at least arguable that the section has in mind something which
acts as a barrier to copying once such a connection has been made.
In addition, the question raised seems to me to be one of fact and
 - 25 -

degree which were it the only basis on which the system could be
said to have ETM, would have to go to trial.

[Emphasis added.]

78. However, the Applicant points out that although Floyd J. nurture[d] some

doubts about whether physical configuration can constitute an ETM, he held in the

summary judgment application that the question would have to go to trial. Thus, his

doubts are strictly obiter dicta.

79. Further, the case is distinguishable because the Court applied the UK definition
of ETM, which differs from the analogous Canadian statute on TPMs. Section
296ZD of the UK Copyright Designs and Patents Act 1988, as amended, provides:

(1) In sections 296ZA to 296ZE, technological measures are any

technology, device or component which is designed, in the normal
course of its operation, to protect a copyright work other than a
computer program.

(2) Such measures are effective if the use of the work is controlled
by the copyright owner through--

(a) an access control or protection process such as encryption,

scrambling or other transformation of the work, or

(b) a copy control mechanism,

which achieves the intended protection.

[Emphasis added.]

80. It is evident from the wording and structure of the UK statute that it

contemplates a narrower definition of effective technological measure, in that the

access control or protection process is limited to encryption, scrambling or some

 - 26 -

other transformation of the work. Arguably, this implies that access control under

the UK statute requires some barrier to copying.

81. The Canadian Act has no such limitation. Under part (a) of the definition, a

technological protection measure means any effective technology, device or

component that, in the ordinary course of its operation, (a) controls access to a work

. There is no suggestion that such effective technology requires transformation of

the protected work.

82. Consistent with the foregoing, the definition of circumvent for an access

control TPM extends beyond descrambling and decryption (or other similar

transformation) to anything else that otherwise avoids, bypasses, removes,

deactivates, or impairs the technological protection measure. It is apparent that

Parliament intended access control TPMs to extend beyond TPMs that merely serve

as barriers to copying.

83. Moreover, since part (b) of the definition for technological protection measure

covers any effective technology, device or component that, in the ordinary course of

its operation [] restricts the doing [] of any act referred to in section 3 [e.g.

copying], it would be redundant and inconsistent with the structure of s. 41 to

require access control TPMs to employ a barrier to copying.

84. Thus, having regard to Parliaments express intent to give copyright owners the

power to control access to works, the principle of technological neutrality, the scheme

of the Act, and the plain meaning of the definitions for TPM and circumvent, it is
 - 27 -

clear that access control TPMs do not need to employ any barrier to copying in order

to be effective.

85. The remaining question is whether the physical configuration of the Applicants

game cards is an effective measure for controlling access to the Nintendo Games.

86. The evidence shows that the physical configuration of the Applicants game

cartridges, including the shape of the card and the arrangement of the electrical pins,

was designed to fit specifically into a corresponding slot on each of its consoles.

Together they operate much like a lock and key. This measure is quite effective in

controlling access to genuine Nintendo Games on the Applicants game cards.

87. In the normal course, a work contained on another medium with a different

physical configuration, like an SD card, cannot be accessed by a user through the

Applicants consoles. A user without one of the Applicants consoles is also unable to

access a Nintendo Game on a genuine game card. It is therefore clear that the

physical configuration is an access control TPM as contemplated under the Act.

88. Applying the same logic, the two remaining Nintendo DS and 3DS access

control TPMs, namely, Boot up Security Checks and Encryption/Scrambling, are also

effective technologies under the definition of TPM under s. 41 of the Act. In

particular, as noted, failure to pass the Boot up Security Checks prevents users from

accessing and playing any Nintendo Game stored on a game card. Similarly,

Encryption/Scrambling technology controls access to such Nintendo Games by

enabling communication between the console and game card.

 - 28 -

89. Although implicitly admitted, the Format TPM and Wii Copy Protection Code

are similarly effective technologies for controlling access to copyrighted works,

namely, Nintendo Games for the Wii console. In particular, as noted, the Format

TPM is a unique data format designed to be used only on Nintendo Games for the

Wii console and the Wii Copy Protection Code must be present for users to access

and play such games.

90. Therefore, all the asserted access control measures are TPMs under s. 41 of the

Act.

(ii) The Respondents circumvention activities

91. The Applicant submits that the Respondents Game Copiers circumvent each of

the three TPMs used to control access to its Nintendo DS and 3DS games, and that by

distributing, offering, and selling the Game Copiers, the Respondent has contravened

s. 41.1(1)(c) of the Act.

92. For liability under s. 41.1(1)(c), the Applicant must establish that the

Respondent has committed one of the prohibited acts (e.g. selling Game Copiers,

which is not disputed) and one of the conditions (i), (ii), or (iii). Each of these

conditions incorporate the word circumvent as defined in s. 41: to descramble a

scrambled work or decrypt an encrypted work or to otherwise avoid, bypass, remove,

deactivate or impair the technological protection measure, unless it is done with the

authority of the copyright owner. There is a dispute only about the meaning of

circumvent.
 - 29 -

93. The Respondent cites the Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 11th ed (2006),

to narrowly interpret each of the words used in the definition of circumvent:

a. Avoid: (1) to keep away or refrain from prevent from happening. (2)

repudiate, nullify, or render void (a decree or contract);

b. Bypass: go past or round;

c. Remove: take off or away from the position occupied;

d. Deactivate: make (something) inactive by disconnecting or destroying

it;

e. Impair: weaken or damage.

94. In contrast, the Applicant submits that circumvent is broadly defined and

open-ended. The words or to otherwise avoid is inclusive language. The list of

activities is exemplary rather than comprehensive. Moreover, Parliament provided a

single limitationunless the copyright owner has authorized it. Applying the

interpretive maxim expressio unius est exclusio alterius, the Applicant submits that

Parliament did not intend any further limitations under the definition.

95. The dispute over the definition arises because the Respondent argues that the

shape of its Game Copiers, which are designed to fit into the game card slot of

Nintendo DS and 3DS consoles, is merely replication of the Physical Configuration

TPM and not circumvention of the TPM.

 - 30 -

96. The Respondents interpretation must be rejected for the following reasons.

97. First, the Respondents dictionary based approach to statutory interpretation

ignores the scheme of the Act and purpose of the prohibition against circumvention.

98. Second, there is no suggestion in the definition of circumvent that Parliament

intended to exclude replication from the definition.

99. Third, the Respondents interpretation defies logic. Replication is not

incompatible with circumvention. A burglar who uses an illicitly copied key to avoid

or bypass a lock to access a house is no less of a burglar than one who uses a lock

pick. Similarly, even if the Respondents Game Copiers replicate only a part of the

TPM, that does not make their use any less of a circumvention.

100. In view of the foregoing, the Respondents Game Copiers circumvent the

Applicants Physical Configuration TPM.

101. With respect to the Boot up Security Check TPM, the Respondent makes an

analogous argument: the Game Copiers merely replicate the TPM by reproducing or

using a copy of the Header Data.

102. However, applying the same reasoning as for the Physical Configuration TPM,

it is apparent that the Game Copiers also circumvent the Boot up Security Check

TPM, within the meaning of the Act.

 - 31 -

103. With respect to Scrambling and Encryption, the Respondent makes a limited

admission that the Game Copiers descramble or decrypt communications from the

Applicants game consoles. However, the Respondent submits that this TPM merely

provides access to the operating system of the Applicants consoles and does not act

upon the TPMs implemented on Nintendo Games.

104. The Respondents position is not supported by the evidence.

105. First, owners of Nintendo DS and 3DS consoles already have access to the

operating system and can play authorized games using the operating system. In the

case of the Nintendo DS console, users can also access pre-installed software without

any game card inserted. Accordingly, the Respondents Game Copiers are not needed

to access the operating system (Rhoads 1, Applicants Record, p. 85).

106. Second, even if the Game Copiers provide access to the operating system, it is

irrelevant, because they also provide unauthorized access to Nintendo Games. The

evidence plainly shows that the Game Copiers permit users to play unauthorized

copies of video games that would otherwise be unplayable without these devices

(Rhoads 1, Applicants Record, p. 93). That is all that is required. The fact that the

Game Copiers may have additional functions beyond circumventing the Applicants

TPMs is irrelevant for the purpose of this analysis.

107. Therefore, the Respondents Game Copiers also circumvent the Applicants

Encryption and Scrambling TPMs.

 - 32 -

108. Once circumvention is established, it must be shown that the Respondent

engaged in a prohibited activity within subparagraphs (i), (ii), or (iii) of s. 41.1(1)(c).

109. The Respondent does not dispute that it has distributed, offered for sale, and

sold Game Copier devices. The Respondent also admits that its Game Copiers are

not commercially significant other than to circumvent the TPMs through the

descrambling of encrypted communications from the DS Systems (Respondents

Memorandum of Fact and Law, para. 82). The evidence also shows that the

Respondent knew that its Game Copiers were used by its customers to play pirated

Nintendo Games (Applicants Record, pp. 1185-1190). This is sufficient to satisfy s.

41.1(1)(c)(ii).

110. The Respondent has therefore trafficked in circumvention devices contrary to s.

41.1(1)(c) of the Act.

111. With respect to circumvention of Wii TPMs, the Respondent admits that it

provided services to circumvent the Wii TPMs through sale and providing installation

services for mod chips. The Respondent has therefore contravened s. 41.1(1)(b),

subject only to its interoperability defence discussed below.

112. The evidence also establishes that the Respondent directly circumvented the

Applicants Wii TPMs by installing a mod chip on a Wii console, thereby enabling a

user to access unauthorized copies of the Applicants video games. Therefore, the

Respondent also contravened s. 41.1(1)(a) of the Act.

 - 33 -

(iii) Interoperability defence and homebrew

113. The Respondent raises an affirmative defence under s. 41.12 of the Act, which

is a section titled interoperability of computer programs. The Respondent also

asserts a homebrew defence. However, as homebrew is not a recognized

exception under the Act, it is assumed that the Respondents reference to homebrew

is for the purpose of establishing the interoperability exception under s. 41.12.

114. The Respondent bears the burden of establishing that it meets one of the

exceptions under the Act (CCH at para. 48). However, the Respondent adduced no

evidence in support of this defence. Instead, it relied solely on evidence from the

Applicant.

115. Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of s. 41.12 provide an interoperability exception

to each of the activities under paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of s. 41.1(1), respectively.

116. The required elements for the defence differ slightly under each subsection. The

provisions are reproduced below for reference:

Interoperability of computer programs

41.12 (1) Paragraph 41.1(1)(a) does not apply to a person who owns
a computer program or a copy of one, or has a licence to use the
program or copy, and who circumvents a technological protection
measure that protects that program or copy for the sole purpose of
obtaining information that would allow the person to make the
program and any other computer program interoperable.

Services

(2) Paragraph 41.1(1)(b) does not apply to a person who offers

services to the public or provides services for the purposes of
circumventing a technological protection measure if the person does
 - 34 -

so for the purpose of making the computer program and any other
computer program interoperable.

Technology, device or component

(3) Paragraph 41.1(1)(c) does not apply to a person who

manufactures, imports or provides a technology, device or
component for the purposes of circumventing a technological
protection measure if the person does so for the purpose of making
the computer program and any other computer program
interoperable and

(a) uses that technology, device or component only for that

purpose; or

(b) provides that technology, device or component to another

person only for that purpose.

117. In support of its defence, the Respondent makes much of the potential

availability of homebrew software. Homebrew refers to third party software

designed for use on the Applicants consoles, but which are not necessarily owned or

licensed by the Applicant.

118. The Respondent relies heavily on a report submitted by the Applicant regarding

the relative prevalence of illicit software (e.g. pirated video games) versus

homebrew software available on the internet (Applicants Record, pp. 150-346).

The Respondents position appears to be that its sale of circumvention devices and

installation services are for the purpose of making the Applicants game consoles

interoperable with homebrew software.

119. The Respondents position is unfounded.

 - 35 -

120. First, the Applicants evidence establishes that the primary purpose of the

Respondents devices is to enable users to play pirated copies of Nintendo Games

(Rhoads 1, Applicants Record, p. 98; Rhoads 2, Applicants Record, p. 919).

121. Second, although homebrew software may be available on the internet and

users of the Respondents devices could theoretically be using them for homebrew,

the scale of such activities is dwarfed by the market for illicit and infringing activities

(Applicants Record, pp. 157-158, 294). Indeed, most of the websites purporting to

make homebrew software available also offer (in far greater quantities) unauthorized

copies of the Applicants copyrighted games.

122. Third, the Respondents own website belies its submission. The only mention

of homebrew on the Respondents website states no homebrew at the moment.

Having effectively advised its customers that homebrew is unavailable, the

Respondent is in no position to show that its products and services were for this

purpose (Hunter, Applicants Record, pp. 1186-1189).

123. Fourth, the Applicants evidence establishes that there are legitimate paths for

developers to develop software on its consoles without circumventing the Applicants

TPMs. There is no need for any TPM circumvention to achieve interoperability.

124. Fifth, the Respondent failed to adduce any evidence that any users actually did

use their services or devices for the purpose of making the Applicants consoles

interoperable with homebrew software.

 - 36 -

125. In view of the foregoing, the Respondent has not met its burden of establishing

that its activities fall within s. 41.12 of the Act.

C. Remedies

(i) Statutory damages

126. The Applicant has elected to recover statutory damages for both copyright

infringement and TPM circumvention.

127. The parties differ over the manner in which statutory damages ought to be

calculated and the amount that should be awarded.

128. The following issues must be decided: (1) in respect of TPM circumvention,

whether statutory damages are calculated per TPM circumvented or per work

that the circumvention grants unauthorized access to; (2) whether the Respondent has

demonstrated a special case for limiting statutory damages; and (3) the amount of

each statutory damage award.

129. The relevant statutory provisions of the Act are ss. 38.1(1)(a), 38.1(3), 41.1(2),

and 41.1(4).

130. The availability and range of statutory damages for commercial activities is

provided in paragraph 38.1(1)(a):

Statutory damages

38.1 (1) Subject to this section, a copyright owner may elect, at any
time before final judgment is rendered, to recover, instead of
 - 37 -

damages and profits referred to in subsection 35(1), an award of

statutory damages for which any one infringer is liable individually,
or for which any two or more infringers are liable jointly and
severally,

(a) in a sum of not less than $500 and not more than $20,000
that the court considers just, with respect to all infringements
involved in the proceedings for each work or other subject-
matter, if the infringements are for commercial purposes [].

131. Subsection 38.1(3) provides an exception to the general rule:

Special case

(3) In awarding statutory damages under paragraph (1)(a) or

subsection (2), the court may award, with respect to each work or
other subject-matter, a lower amount than $500 or $200, as the case
may be, that the court considers just, if

(a) either

(i) there is more than one work or other subject-matter in

a single medium, or

(ii) the award relates only to one or more infringements

under subsection 27(2.3); and

(b) the awarding of even the minimum amount referred to in

that paragraph or that subsection would result in a total award
that, in the courts opinion, is grossly out of proportion to the
infringement.

132. In the case of TPM circumvention, entitlement to damages is provided by ss.

41.1(2) and (4) of the Act:

(2) The owner of the copyright in a work, a performers performance

fixed in a sound recording or a sound recording in respect of which
paragraph (1)(a) has been contravened is, subject to this Act and any
regulations made under section 41.21, entitled to all remedies by
way of injunction, damages, accounts, delivery up and otherwise
that are or may be conferred by law for the infringement of copyright
against the person who contravened that paragraph.

[]
 - 38 -

(4) Every owner of the copyright in a work, a performers

performance fixed in a sound recording or a sound recording in
respect of which a technological protection measure has been or
could be circumvented as a result of the contravention of paragraph
(1)(b) or (c) is, subject to this Act and any regulations made under
section 41.21, entitled to all remedies by way of injunction,
damages, accounts, delivery up and otherwise that are or may be
conferred by law for the infringement of copyright against the person
who contravened paragraph (1)(b) or (c).

[Emphasis added.]

133. The Applicant contends that statutory damages for TPM circumvention ought

to be calculated on a per-work basis, i.e. each copyrighted work that the

circumvention grants unauthorized access to attracts a separate award of statutory

damages. Using the per-work approach, the Applicant seeks a range of statutory

damages between $294,000 to $11,700,000 for TPM circumvention of 585 different

Nintendo Games, based on a statutorily mandated range between $500 and $20,000

per work.

134. In contrast, the Respondent argues there should be no statutory damages for

TPM circumvention, since it would create an unprecedented award where no actual

copyright infringement has been proven for the Nintendo Games. In support of its

position, the Applicant repeats that the TPM circumvention provided access to the

Applicants operating systems, and not to the Nintendo Games.

135. In the alternative, the Respondent submits that damages should be calculated

based on the number of TPMs circumvented, as it is a linear analogy where each

 - 39 -

TPM is treated as a specific work (Respondents Memorandum of Fact and Law,

paras. 94-103).

136. The Applicants approach should be adopted for the following reasons.

137. First, actual infringement of copyright is not necessary for an award of statutory

damages for TPM circumvention. This proposition is self-evident from the scheme of

the statute. Subsection 41.1(4) provides that the copyright owner is entitled to all

remedies where a technological protection measure has been or could be

circumvented as a result of the contravention of paragraph (1)(b) or (c). This implies

that actual circumvention is not required. It logically follows that actual access or

copying of a copyrighted work is also not required. Moreover, s. 41.1 does not limit

damages for TPM circumvention to circumstances involving actual copyright

infringement. Had Parliament intended to make actual copyright infringement a

necessary element for recovering damages, it easily could have done so as it did in s.

38.1(1.1) in respect of an infringement under s. 27(2.3).

138. Second, a work-based award is more harmonious with the wording of the Act.

Subsection 41.1(4) provides that the owner of the copyright in a work is entitled to

all remedies. If the owner of a single work may claim all remedies for infringement of

that one work, it follows that the owner of multiple works is entitled to a separate

remedy for each infringed work. This is also consistent with the wording in s. 38.1(1),

which provides remedies for infringement of each work or other subject matter.
 - 40 -

139. Third, the economic reality of copyright vis--vis TPM circumvention favours a

work-based calculation. The market for circumvention devices and services is

driven by the value of the works to which access is illicitly gained. A robber breaks a

lock because of the value behind the lock, not because of the value of the lock(s). If

the Applicant had not invested millions of dollars to create a library of valuable video

games, the Respondent would have no market for its circumvention devices.

140. Fourth, a TPM-based award of damages would likely be ineffective. Parliament

recognized the importance of TPMs as tools to prevent piracy and to protect

investments made by the creative industry. In order to be effective, those legal tools

must reflect the value of the works protected and act as a deterrent to the

circumvention industry. The Applicants consoles are each protected by 2 or 3 TPMs,

whereas circumvention provides access to hundreds of the Applicants video games.

In effect, a TPM-based award would become a fixed cost of business for trafficking

in circumvention devices. Perversely, this would incentivize TPM circumvention for

the most popular and valuable copyright libraries. That could not have been

Parliaments intention.

141. In the circumstances, the Applicant is entitled to a statutory damage award for

each of the 585 Nintendo Games to which the Respondents circumvention devices

provide unauthorized access.

142. The Applicant is also entitled to statutory damages for each of the 3 Header

Data works in which copyright infringement has been established.

 - 41 -

143. The next question is whether the Respondent has established a special case for

reducing the available range of statutory damages.

144. Under s. 38.1(1) of the Act, the usual range of statutory remedies for copyright

infringement with a commercial purpose is $500 to $20,000 per work.

145. The Respondent does not dispute that its activities are commercial, but cites s.

38.1(3) in support of its argument that an award of statutory damages can be below

$500 (Respondents Memorandum of Fact and Law, para. 88).

146. As in any other affirmative defence in the Act, the Respondent bears the burden

of proving that the exception applies. Subsection 38.1(3) has two required elements.

The Respondent must establish both.

147. For the following reasons, the Respondent does not establish either.

148. As for the first element, paragraph 38.1(3)(a) requires there to be more than

one work in a single medium. This may apply, for example, to newspapers or

anthologies, where multiple copyrights may exist in a single copied medium. This

does not apply here, as the Applicant asserts only a single copyright in respect of each

Nintendo Game (one copy of which is stored on a single medium on an authorized

Nintendo game card).

149. As for the second element, paragraph 38.1(3)(b) requires the Respondent to

establish that the total award would be grossly out of proportion to the

infringement. To assess proportionality, the Court would need evidence of, inter
 - 42 -

alia, the Respondents revenues and profits. If any such evidence existed, it would

plainly have been within the Respondents power to adduce. It did not do so. In the

circumstances, it is reasonable to infer that such evidence either did not exist or

would not have helped the Respondent.

150. Conversely, the Applicant adduced evidence that each video game can take

years and millions of dollars to develop, and that there are 585 copyrighted Nintendo

Games at issue.

151. In view of the foregoing, s. 38.1(3) does not apply. Accordingly, the range of

statutory damages available is between $500 and $20,000 per work.

152. The final step is to determine the measure of statutory damages to be applied to

each work. The Applicant seeks the maximum statutory damage of $20,000 for each

work, while the Respondent submits, based on its one admitted act of copyright

infringement, that $8,000 is appropriate under the circumstances.

153. Subsection 38.1(5) of the Act provides factors that the Court shall consider in

determining the appropriate measure of statutory damages:

a. the good or bad faith of the defendant;

b. the conduct of the parties before and during the proceedings; and

c. the need to deter other infringements of the copyright in question.

 - 43 -

154. The Applicant has adduced evidence showing that: the Respondent was aware

of the anti-circumvention provisions under the Act and the Applicants efforts to

control unauthorized access to its video games; the Respondent warned customers

they may be banned from the Applicants network for using circumvention devices;

and the Respondent advised customers how to use the devices with certain pirated

video games and how to avoid detection (Applicants Record, pp. 1186-1190, 1201-

1202).

155. The Applicant has also adduced evidence showing that the Respondent deals in

other purported circumvention devices for other platforms and appears to have close

relationships with manufacturers of circumvention devices, all of which is indicative

of an industrial scale operation. Indeed, the Respondents websites and social media

promote it as the #1 Modchip Store. There is also evidence that the Respondent is

taking pre-orders for circumvention devices designed for the next generation of the

Applicants console, the Wii U (Applicants Record, p. 1195).

156. In response, the Respondent asserts that it is a long running electronic

accessories small business and employs a number of individuals. However, without

evidence, this is a bare assertion. There is simply no support for the Respondents

suggestion that it is a small fish.

157. The Respondent also submits that the Applicant did not provide it with the

opportunity to cease and desist its activities, and that it has admitted its

wrongdoing.
 - 44 -

158. This Court has previously taken a dim view of infringers who attempt to shift

blame to rights holders (Adobe et al v Thompson, 2012 FC 1219 at para. 5).

159. Moreover, as of the hearing of this Application, the Respondent had still

adduced no evidence to show that it had ceased its activitiesmore than eight

months after it was served with the Notice of Application. Accordingly, there is no

evidence that a cease and desist letter would have done anything to deter the

Respondents trafficking in circumvention devices.

160. Finally, the Respondents admission, limited to damages for one act of

copyright infringement, is a calculated and self-serving attempt to minimize damages.

161. The evidence is sufficient to establish bad faith and misconduct on the part of

the Respondent, militating in favour of a maximum award of damages.

162. The need for deterrence further reinforces that a maximum award of $20,000

per work is warranted in the circumstances.

163. Damages should be significant enough to deter others who may wish to engage

in similar illicit activities and also to deter the Respondent from resuming such

activities.

164. In respect of the general need for deterrence, Parliament has clearly indicated

its intention to protect investments made by the creative industry, including

specifically the video game industry. TPMs are important tools to protect these

investments. An award of maximum statutory damages reflects the disproportionate

 - 45 -

harm that may be caused to copyright owners by those engaged in circumvention, as

they provide access to entire libraries of copyrighted works while profiting from

others investments.

165. In respect of the specific need to deter the Respondent, there is evidence of

recidivism by the Respondents director Mr. King, who has been involved in similar

activities in the past (Applicants Record, pp. 1203-1205). The Respondents business

also appears to be dedicated to circumvention activities. Further, the Respondent

continues to promote illegitimate activities such as piracy of television programs and

circumvention devices for other platforms (Applicants Record, pp. 1193-1198). All

of this demonstrates an acute need for deterrence.

166. In view of the foregoing factors, an award of $20,000 per work is reasonable

and justified. This Court has not previously hesitated to award maximum statutory

damages where it was warranted. (Louis Vuitton Malletier SA v Singga Enterprises

(Canada) Inc, 2011 FC 776 at paras 156-158; Microsoft Corp v 9038-3746 Quebec

Inc, 2006 FC 1509 at paras. 112-113; Louis Vuitton Malletiers SA v Yang, 2007 FC

1179 at paras. 18-26; Adobe et al v Thompson, 2012 FC 1219 at paras. 5-8; Twentieth

Century Fox Film Corp v Hernandez, 2013 CarswellNat 6160 (FC) at p. 3). This is

such a case.

167. Therefore, the Applicant is entitled to statutory damages of $11,700,000 for

TPM circumvention in respect of its 585 Nintendo Games, and of $60,000 for

copyright infringement in respect of the three Header Data works.

 - 46 -

(ii) Punitive damages

168. The Applicant also seeks $1,000,000 in punitive damages.

169. Section 38.1(7) of the Act provides that punitive damages may be awarded even

where the Applicant elects statutory damages.

170. Punitive damages are intended to reflect the objectives of retribution,

deterrence, and denunciation (Whiten v Pilot Insurance Co, 2002 SCC 18 at para

123). These objectives are equally applicable to copyright infringement. In Adobe

Systems Inc v Thompson, 2012 FC 1219, this Court set out certain factors relevant for

an award of punitive damages, at para 11:

It appears that if a defendants conduct can be characterized as

outrageous, highly unreasonable or showing a callous disregard
for the rights of the plaintiff, punitive damages will be warranted
(Louis Vuitton Malletier S.A. v Singga Enterprises (Canada) Inc.,
2011 FC 776 (FC) at para 168). When assessing whether conduct
can be characterized in such terms, the following factors are helpful
to consider: (i) the scale and duration of the infringing activities; (ii)
cooperation of the infringing party during court proceedings and
willingness to admit wrongdoing; (iii) whether the infringing partys
actions were knowing, planned and deliberate; (iv) whether the
infringing party attempted to conceal and cover up wrongdoings; (v)
whether the infringing party continues to infringe the copyright in
question; and (vi) whether the conduct of the infringing party in the
course of the proceedings has resulted in the additional costs to the
Plaintiffs (Louis Vuitton Malletier S.A. v Singga Enterprises
(Canada) Inc., supra at para 170-176).

171. In this case, the Respondent has shown callous disregard for the Applicants

rights. It is clear from the evidence that the Respondent knowingly and deliberately

sold circumvention devices, and promoted such activities to its customers. Its
 - 47 -

activities have gone on for years, and it offers a wide range of circumvention

products. The Respondent also operates under a misleading unregistered business

name. The evidence further suggests the Respondent intends to expand its activities,

to market and sell TPM circumvention devices for the Applicants next generation of

game consoles (Rhoads 2, Applicants Record, p. 925; Hunter, Applicants Record,

pp. 1095 and 1193-1195).

172. The Respondents admissions of wrongdoing are of limited value, since they

are calculated to limit liability rather than address the full nature and extent of its

infringing activities. This Court has previously awarded punitive damages

notwithstanding such limited admissions of infringement (Louis Vuitton Malletier

S.A. v Singga Enterprises (Canada) Inc., supra).

173. Further, the fact that the Applicant did not issue a cease-and-desist letter to the

Respondent prior to commencing this proceeding is of no moment. As noted, there is

no evidence that doing so would have made any difference. Given the nature of the

Respondents business, the Applicant was reasonable in commencing this proceeding

in the manner that it did.

174. The Respondents conduct justifies an award of punitive damages. An award of

$1,000,000 is warranted in this case in view of the strong need to deter and denounce

such activities. Such an award is also consistent with the scale of penalties available

if this were a criminal proceeding under s. 42 of the Act.

 - 48 -

(iii) Injunctive relief

175. An injunction is the normal remedy for infringement of copyright. Here, the

Applicant also seeks a wide injunction under s. 39.1(1) of the Act to prohibit the

Respondent from infringing copyright in any other work owned by the Applicant and

from trafficking in any circumvention devices that circumvent the Applicants TPMs.

176. The Applicant has satisfied the burden of showing that the Respondent is likely

to continue infringing copyright and circumventing TPMs absent an injunction.

177. Thus, the Respondent should be enjoined from infringing any of the

Applicants copyrights and circumventing any of the Applicants TPMs.

(iv) Delivery up

178. Delivery up of the infringing goods (TPM circumvention devices) is also a

standard remedy and is warranted in this case (Microsoft Corporation v 9038-3746

Quebec Inc, 2006 FC 1509 at para. 102).

(v) Costs

179. The Applicant sought elevated costs on the basis that this Application has taken

a significant amount of time, effort, and expense, has been relatively complex in view

of the novelty of the issues raised, the extensive investigative effort required to

uncover the Respondents activities, and to ensure that copyright owners can

effectively seek similar remedies by having costs reflect the reality of intellectual

property enforcement.
 - 49 -

180. The Applicant also no longer seeks solicitor-client costs, and takes no issue

with the conduct of Respondents counsel.

181. Given the foregoing, elevated costs under Column V of Tariff B are warranted.

IV. Order Requested

182. In view of the foregoing, the Applicant seeks an order in the form attached as

Schedule A.

ALL OF WHICH IS RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED.

Dated at Toronto, Ontario this 14th day of December, 2016.

_________________________
SMART & BIGGAR
Barristers & Solicitors
1100-150 York Street,
Toronto, ON M5H 3S5

Mark G. Biernacki
Kevin P. Siu

Tel: (416) 593-5514

Fax: (416) 591-1690

Solicitors for the Applicant,

Nintendo of America Inc.

TO: THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR

The Federal Court of Canada
180 Queen Street West, Suite 200
Toronto, ON M5V 3L6
 - 50 -

AND TO: MBM INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW LLP

275 Slater Street, 14th Floor
Ottawa, ON K1P 5H9

Scott Miller
Jahangir Valiani

Tel: (613) 567-0762

Fax: (613) 563-7671

Solicitors for the Respondents,

Jeramie Douglas King and
Go Cyber Shopping (2005) Ltd.
 Schedule A

Date: 201612__

Docket: T-245-16

Toronto, Ontario, December __, 2016

PRESENT: The Honourable Mr. Justice Douglas R. Campbell

BETWEEN:
NINTENDO OF AMERICA INC.

Applicant

and

JERAMIE DOUGLAS KING and

GO CYBER SHOPPING (2005) LTD.

Respondents

JUDGMENT

THIS COURT ORDERS AND DECLARES that:

1. Copyright subsists in the 585 Nintendo Games identified in Schedules A, B, C, and

D of the Notice of Application;

2. Copyright subsists in the three registered Header Data works, namely:

 Page: 2

a. Copyright Registration Number 1,051,042: NINTENDO DS BOOT CODE (a.k.a.

NINTENDO DS HEADER CODE);

b. Copyright Registration Number 1,094,948: NINTENDO 3DS STARTUP

SEQUENCE; and

c. Copyright Registration Number 1,110,536: GAME BOY ADVANCE BOOT

CODE WITH NINTENDO LOGO DATA FILE;

3. The Applicant Nintendo of America Inc. is the owner of copyright in the Nintendo

Games and Header Data Works;

4. The Respondent, Go Cyber Shopping (2005) Ltd., has infringed the Applicants

copyright in the Header Data Works; and

5. The Respondent, Go Cyber Shopping (2005) Ltd., has circumvented, offered services to

the public and provided services to circumvent, distributed, offered for sale, and provided

technologies, devices, and components to circumvent the Applicants technological

protection measures which control access to the Nintendo Games.

THIS COURT ORDERS AND ADJUGES that:

 Page: 3

6. The Respondent, Go Cyber Shopping (2005) Ltd., including its officers, directors,

servants, employees, workers, agents, or any other persons under its direction, power, or

control, shall be enjoined from:

a. Circumventing; offering services to the public for the purposes of circumventing;

or manufacturing, importing, distributing, offering for sale, or otherwise

providing technologies, devices, and/or components that circumvent any

technological protection measure employed by the Applicant to control access to

any of its copyrighted works;

b. Selling or renting, distributing; by way of trade distributing, exposing or offering

for sale or rental, or exhibit in public; possessing for the purpose of selling,

renting, distributing or trading; or importing for the purpose of selling, renting,

distributing or trading, any copies of the Applicants copyrighted works or any

substantial parts thereof or any goods containing said works or substantial parts

thereof;

7. The Respondent, Go Cyber Shopping (2005) Ltd., shall deliver up for destruction, all

goods, articles, works, technologies, devices, components, or other materials in its

possession or control or that may have come into their possession or control that offend

against the injunction issued; and

8. The Respondent, Go Cyber Shopping (2005) Ltd., shall pay forthwith to the Applicant,

Nintendo of America Inc.:

 Page: 4

a. $11,700,000 in statutory damages pursuant to s. 38.1 of the Copyright Act in

respect of circumvention of technological protection measures;

b. $60,000 in statutory damages pursuant to s. 38.1 of the Copyright Act in respect

of copyright infringement of the Header Data works;

c. $1,000,000 in punitive damages;

d. pre-judgment interest in the prescribed amount of 0.8% under the Courts of

Justice Act, RSO 1990, c C-43, on the award of statutory damages calculated from

May 12, 2016;

e. post-judgment interest in the prescribed amount of 2.0% under the Courts of

Justice Act, RSO 1990, c C-43, on the award of statutory damages calculated from

the date of this judgment;

f. costs, assessed under Column V of Tariff B to the Federal Courts Rules.

Judge