Italy busts gang selling fake retro video game systems

Police in Italy have seized counterfeit vintage consoles and games worth almost €50m ($55.5m), disrupting the activities of a ring trafficking the devices.

Around 12,000 consoles holding 47m fake versions of classic titles from gaming giants like Nintendo, Sega and Atari were intercepted, according to an AFP report which cites Alessandro Langella, head of the Turin Guardia di Finanza's anti-economic crime unit.

Aside from contravening trademarks and other intellectual property, the devices – which originated from China – did not meet safety specifications for batteries and other electrical components and could pose risks to users.

Anyone who spends any time on social media or e-commerce platforms will almost certainly have been exposed to advertising for consoles that promise to run thousands of games, including titles from the 1980s and 1990s such as Super Mario Bros, Street Fighter and Star Wars, which are still covered by IP.

Those offering the devices are tapping into a surge in interest for what is known as "retro gaming," with the prices of genuine, original consoles rising in line with demand and now often many times what the items would have cost back in the day, with some units like the original Nintendo Game Boy and Atari 2600 going for hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

The hardware and software seized in Italy was all imported from China for sale in specialty stores or online, according to AFP. All the devices have been destroyed, and the operation has resulted in nine arrests on suspicion of trafficking in counterfeit goods. If found guilty, they face up to eight years in prison.

Photo by Terry Lee on Unsplash