The Italian retro gaming content creator known as Once Were Nerd recently disclosed that he is facing an investigation by Italian law enforcement. Authorities are looking into whether his video reviews of third-party handheld gaming devices may be in violation of Italian copyright law. If formal charges are brought, the YouTuber could be subject to severe penalties, including potential imprisonment or substantial financial fines.
Once Were Nerd, as reported by Insider Gaming, revealed on his YouTube channel that the Guardia di Finanza, a specialized law enforcement agency under Italy`s Ministry of Economy and Finance, is conducting the inquiry. Acting on a search warrant, the agency confiscated his mobile phone along with over 30 handheld gaming systems from his possession.
The primary concern revolves around third-party handhelds from manufacturers such as Anbernic and GoRetroid, which Once Were Nerd has reviewed. These devices are frequently sold with unauthorized ROMs of various classic video games, originally created and published by companies like Sony and Nintendo.
The investigation is probing potential breaches of Italian copyright legislation, which explicitly prohibits promoting copyrighted material via social media platforms. Once Were Nerd strongly disputes these claims, asserting that none of his content was sponsored by the console manufacturers. He maintains that his reviews are purely impartial assessments of products available to consumers, rather than promotional endorsements.
Should the investigation lead to official charges, Once Were Nerd could face fines reaching up to 30 million Italian Lira (a historical currency, roughly equivalent to €15,500) and a prison sentence of up to three years. Furthermore, authorities possess the power to shut down all his online channels. The investigation into this matter is currently ongoing.
