LOS ANGELES — Popular TikTokker, Twitch cosplayer and online adult performer "pokeprincxss" revealed last week that she has rebranded to "digitalprincxss," alleging that Nintendo warned her about copyright infringement against their Pokémon gaming and content franchise.
Last Tuesday, digitalprincxss announced via TikTok, reposted on Twitter, that she would no longer be working under the name pokeprincxss and would be rebranding to the new moniker.
Digitalprincxss also posted a Youtube video titled “I Got Sued By A Giant Company,” revealing her claim that Nintendo threatened to sue her. According to digitalprincxss, Nintendo informed her that the company reserved the rights to all things Pokémon, rights that she was infringing upon by including distinctive Pokémon iconography, like the Pokeball, in her merchandise.
As XBIZ reported, last month Nintendo filed a DMCA takedown against the makers of “Peach’s Untold Tale,” a XXX freeware game parody of Nintendo’s “Super Mario” franchise.
Digitalprincxss believes that her move to apply for a trademark as an adult entertainer under "pokeprincxss" might have forced the hand of the Japan-based gaming giant.
“When I was trademarked as 'pokeprincxss,' one of the classes I was [under] was [as] an adult entertainer,” the performer said in the video. "And Nintendo is a family-friendly company.”
She also mentioned she thought she was covered by the parody exception for copyrighted material — which is the rationale for most XXX takeoffs of major franchises — and also by the fact that a multitude of cosplayers appear to be selling unlicensed Pokémon art.
Nintendo reps have not commented on the matter.
