In a successful crackdown on intellectual property infringement, the police in East China's Shanghai have arrested 17 individuals, including ringleaders Li Luming and Liu Danhua, for producing and distributing counterfeit gaming products.

The defendants were accused of creating gaming consoles featuring popular Nintendo games, including "Super Mario" and "Ice Climber", without proper authorization from the games company.

After thorough investigations, the police found that Li and Liu established Shenzhen Renshun Technology Co Ltd in 2015, which manufactured and sold unauthorized gaming consoles online via platforms such as Tmall, JD.com and Pinduoduo.

The total value of the illegal sales amounted to over 10 million yuan ($1.4 million).

In 2022, the Putuo People's Court in Shanghai sentenced Liu and five other defendants to prison terms ranging from two years and 10 months to one year and four months, as well as issued fines between 100,000 and 200,000 yuan. Li and three others received sentences ranging from four years and six months to three years and three months, as well as fines between 350,000 and 700,000 yuan.

The case is said to serve as a warning to counterfeiters that the authorities are serious about protecting intellectual property rights and that violators will face severe consequences.