The complaint includes reproduction of copyrighted material from major companies, raising concerns about the potential shutdown of his channel, which has over 49,000 subscribers.

Under Italian law, authorities can shut down his YouTube channel without proving wrongdoing, posing a significant risk for content creators involved in similar niches.

Once Were Nerd's channel features reviews of gaming devices supporting console emulation, allowing users to play classic games from various systems.

His situation highlights the serious consequences of sharing content involving copyrighted materials, even in the popular retro gaming niche.

The case is being pursued under Italian Copyright Law, specifically Article 171 ter of the law from 1941, which could lead to fines up to €15,000 and a prison sentence of up to three years.

The YouTuber claims he has never published sponsored reviews or used affiliate links, asserting that he purchased the devices legitimately and has cooperated with authorities.

This case underscores the increasing legal risks faced by gaming content creators, especially those involved with emulation and retro gaming devices, as it could lead to channel closure and imprisonment.

Authorities executed a search warrant, confiscating his phone and demanding transcripts of his communications with gaming device manufacturers, returning the phone on June 15, 2025.

Legal experts warn that reviewing devices with pre-loaded copyrighted material could expose content creators to liability for promoting piracy, even if they purchased the devices legitimately.

An Italian YouTuber known for reviewing retro gaming devices, 'Once Were Nerd,' is facing potential criminal charges after a raid by Italian authorities on July 15, 2025, due to allegations of promoting piracy.

The Guardia di Finanza seized over 30 gaming handheld consoles from brands like ANBERNIC, Powkiddy, and TrimUI during a raid on April 15, 2025, which included devices pre-loaded with copyrighted ROMs.

The case involves allegations of promoting pirated content related to Android-based gaming handhelds, with the seized devices reportedly containing ROMs of copyrighted games from companies like Nintendo and Sony.

The legal issues stem from the presence of unauthorized game ROMs on the devices showcased in his videos, despite emulation software itself not being illegal.