Credit: Unsplash

Time to pay the plumber.

If there’s anything I’ve learned over multiple years of playing Nintendo games, it’s that the fastest way to get their entire legal might dumped on your head is to co-opt their copyrights, even in a small way. Back in 2017, Tokyo go-kart tour company MariCar, now rebranded as Street Kart, learned this the hard way, and after a prolonged legal battle, pay day has finally come.

Nintendo first launched their lawsuit against MariCar in 2017 on the grounds of IP violations. You may be assuming it comes from the name MariCar, which bears a close resemblance to Mario Kart, but that was actually just a shortening of the company’s real name, Mari Mobility. No, the real violation came about because MariCar allowed patrons to dress up in Mario character costumes while riding along the streets of Tokyo. This was a part of a normal service they offered, with character costumes from Marvel, Illumination, and other notable studios and properties offered. Nintendo, however, wasn’t having it, and sued the company to the tune of 10 million yen (about $97,000 USD). MariCar, now Street Kart, tried to distance themselves from Nintendo by removing the Mario costumes, all while appealing the claim.

Japan’s Supreme Court upholds Nintendo’s victory in lawsuit against MariCar https://t.co/prR4S0mi87 pic.twitter.com/5LwD56ofUS

— Nintendo Everything (@NinEverything) December 28, 2020

Unfortunately, the appeal has been rejected by the Japanese Supreme Court, and to add insult to injury, the fine has been increased to 50 million yen (about $483,000). This could prove to be the final nail in the coffin for Street Kart, as this massive fine is yet another draw on the company’s finances, which have already been severely gutted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Apparently, though, the citizens of Tokyo aren’t losing too much sleep over this; local residents actual hate the karts due the loud noise and unpleasant smell they produce, as well as the multiple car accidents they’ve been involved in. I guess the lesson of the day is this: if you’re going to try to co-opt Nintendo’s stuff, don’t do it in the form of a loud billboard rolling around the streets of a major city.