Date: Tue, 19 Jan 93 14:18:46 PST
From: metal@PNET01.CTS.COM(Conal G.)
Subject: File 6--Nintendo News Release (Re: BSA APL Bust - Oct '92)

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Lynn Hvalsoe\Nintendo of America, Inc.
206/861-2096

James Bikoff/Arter & Hadden
202/775-7100

  NINTENDO JOINS IN SEIZURE AGAINST ILLEGAL BULLETIN BOARD SOFTWARE

     REDMOND, WA--As part of a continuing and aggressive effort to
halt counterfeiting of video games and business software, Nintendo of
America Inc.  and six major software manufactures filed an action
against distributors of a computer "bulletin board" network system
giving software acess to users.

     Illegal software was seized by authorities from APL, an electronic
bulletin board computer system (BBS) headquartered in Baltimore, MD.

     "Counterfeiting and illegal use of video games and business
software has grown immensely over the past few years.  We have and
will continue to prosecute those who've become part of the underground
counterfeiting network", said Lynn Hvalsoe, Nintendo's General Counsel.

     The legal action outlines that illegal software wass accessed
through operators who provide personal computer users a code to enter
the system via telephone and modem.  Illegal bulletin boards have
become a popular trend, with an estimated 5,000 systems in the United
States.  Illegal bulletin boards also have been found in Europe and
Asia.

     This case represents the first time video game and business
software companies have joined together to fight software pirating.
The business software companies, represented in this case through the
Business Software Association (BSA), include Aldus, Autodesk, Lotus
Development, Microsoft, Novel and WordPerfect.  All companies,
including Nintendo, are individual plaintiffs in the legal action.

     The action is part of Nintendo's large anti-counterfeiting
campaign much of which is aimed at illegal video games being
manufactured, sold and shipped from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and other
countries.

     "Counterfeiting is a very serious crime and Nintendo is working
hard to let violators know they will be pursued and charges will be
brought against them," added Hvalsoe.  Hvalsoe pointed to success
this year in the signing of Federal legislation (S893) which elevates
copyright infringement, such as that engaged in by bulletin board
operators, to a felony with penalties of up to $250,000/and up to five
years in prison.

     Nintendo of America Inc. is based in Redmond, Washington and is a
wholly owned subsidiary of Nintendo Co. Ltd., Japan, the worlds largest
manufacturer and marketer of video games.

-=-=-=-=-
Submitted by Metalhead of Rockin' Alliance
Phile 1/2

UUCP: {hplabs!hp-sdd ucsd nosc}!crash!pnet01!metal
ARPA: crash!pnet01!metal@nosc.mil

(I received this in the mail about 5 days after I received the
News Release)
++++++++++++++++++

                         ARTER & HADDEN
                 1801 K Street, N.W., Suite 400K
                   Washington, D.C. 20006-1301
                          202/775-7100
                     Facsimile 202/857-0172
                      Telex 6502156242-MCI

                          CLARIFICATION

      The News Release you received from Nintendo of America was
provided for INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.  No response is required.
You were selected to receive this News Release, because you are a
person who is interested in or involved with bulletin boards.  The
fact that you received this News Release does not mean that you or the
BBS you operate are under investigation.  Moreover, Nintendo of
America has not singled out for investigation users of PCBoard
software.  The single civil lawsuit that was the subject of the News
Release was filed against the APL BBS, which was located in Baltimore,
MD.  This BBS was strictly a pirate board, and the system operator
actively encouraged users to upload and download large amounts of
copyrighted software.  CLARK DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, INC. WAS NOT
INVOLVED IN THIS LAWSUIT AND DID NOT SEE THE NEWS RELEASE IN ADVANCE
OF ITS DISTRIBUTION.  We recognize that there are many legitimate
bulletin boards and many honest system operators who support the
ethical use of software.  Unless you have questions about action taken
against the APL BBS, however, please do not call Clark Devolopment,
Nintendo of America or Nintendo of America's attorneys.

     Please pass this message on to anyone you know who received the
News Release.  You are encouraged to post this message on your BBS.


-=-=-=-=-
Submitted by Metalhead of Rockin' Alliance
Phile 2/2

Downloaded From P-80 International Information Systems 304-744-2253