Liberty Times Net (LTN) March 24, 2026
Influencer Livestreams Become Breeding Ground for Piracy: CIB Seizes 70,000 Infringing Games Worth Over NT$1.1 Billion
Reporter: Huang Chia-lin / Kaohsiung
Several YouTube livestreamers have been operating channels under the guise of “retro arcade” and “nostalgic unboxing” to attract large numbers of gaming enthusiasts. However, an investigation by the Intellectual Property Rights Police Corps of the Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) revealed that a piracy syndicate has been using these livestreams to drive traffic and integrate virtual and physical sales of pirated games. Authorities have arrested three suspects, including a man surnamed Zhang, and seized over 70,000 infringing game files with an estimated market value exceeding NT$1.1 billion.
According to the IPR Police Corps, the piracy group led by Zhang sold gaming consoles pre-loaded with a massive amount of unauthorized software. This included world-renowned IPs from SNK Corporation, such as The King of Fighters, Samurai Shodown, and Metal Slug.
Zhang and his associates collaborated with multiple YouTubers. On the surface, these influencers appeared to be engaging in technical exchanges and sharing gaming experiences with netizens. In reality, they were linked to physical stores and e-commerce platforms. Their video content was designed to precision-target and direct traffic to specific Shopee accounts and physical retail outlets located in New Taipei City and Taichung, causing a severe impact on the legal licensing market.
Under the direction of the Taichung District Prosecutors Office, a special task force launched raids starting in November last year at two physical stores in the Sanchong District of New Taipei City and the Fengyuan District of Taichung City. Police seized: computer mainframes, handheld and desktop gaming consoles, and a large volume of memory cards and external hard drives. Upon preliminary inventory, the number of infringing game files reached 74,027, with a market value surpassing NT$1.1 billion. Following questioning, the case has been transferred to the Taichung District Prosecutors Office for investigation on charges of violating the Copyright Act and the Trademark Act.