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Another Nintendo Switch emulator, Suyu, has taken a hit days after its beta launch. GitLab has pulled the Yuzu spinoff Suyu from its site and suspended Suyu developers' accounts after receiving a DMCA takedown request.
GitLab says it was simply following its policies, The Verge reports. Suyu developers claim they don't know who sent the DMCA request, but a screenshot shared by news outlet Overkill shows a description of the purported takedown request which alleges that Suyu "unlawfully uses unauthorized copies of cryptographic keys to decrypt unauthorized copies of Nintendo Switch games."
It also alleges that "Suyu, like Yuzu, is primarily designed to circumvent Nintendo's technical protection measures," citing Section 1201 of the DMCA. The notice also claims that because Yuzu's code allegedly violates the law, Suyu's does too.
Earlier this month, Suyu devs told Ars Technica that their emulator "exists in a legal gray area we are trying to work our way out out of" and that it was making plans to protect itself in part by not monetizing its emulator.
But Suyu's website actually argues that its emulator is "legal to use."
"Emulators like Suyu are software applications designed to replicate the functionality of a particular gaming system, and they are generally regarded as legal tools," Suyu's website reads.
"However it's important to note that downloading or sharing copyrighted game ROMs without proper authorization from the copyright holders is illegal in many jurisdictions," Suyu's site continues. "To adhere to copyright laws, make sure to either own the original game cartridges or acquire game ROMs through legitimate channels."
But the fact that Yuzu quickly folded after Nintendo's lawsuit and publicly said its emulator "led to extensive piracy" could impact the spinoff Suyu's fate.