Six months after the extensive teraleak that exposed decades of Pokémon design materials, Nintendo is taking action to discover the identity of the individual linked to the leak.

According to a report by Polygon, Nintendo has filed a petition in a California court, requesting a DMCA subpoena to compel Discord to disclose the details of the user behind the account ‘GameFreakOUT’. They seek the user’s name, address, phone number, email, IP address, and any other identifying information.

This user is believed to be the one who hacked into Pokémon developer Game Freak, making public a trove of unreleased materials, which included unfinished sprites and concept art from the anime dating back to its 1997 debut, along with internal meeting minutes from the Pokémon Company.

This move initiates a potentially harsh legal process for ‘GameFreakOUT’. Should Discord comply with the subpoena—which appears likely—Nintendo might unleash its legal team against this anonymous leaker. Nintendo has a reputation for aggressively protecting its intellectual property, often engaging in litigation against any breach.

This legal pursuit brings to mind the case of Gary Bowser, who faced a three-year prison sentence alongside a hefty $4.5 million fine for distributing modchips for various Nintendo consoles. Nintendo has been relentless in its pursuit of Bowser, also hitting him with an additional $10 million lawsuit, clearly demonstrating its vigorous approach to copyright protection.

While the consequences for the teraleaker may not mirror Bowser’s harsh penalties, as there was no sale of leaked content involved, historical context suggests Nintendo may still impose significant repercussions. In previous cases concerning Pokémon leaks, the Pokémon Company has successfully sued for damages, leaving participants liable for substantial amounts.

As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how vigorously Nintendo will pursue this case against ‘GameFreakOUT’.