This news is a bit old, Novemeber of last year actually. But I was still surprised by it. These devices aren’t all that uncommon in Japan even today.

The R4 is a flashcard device for use with the Nintendo DS. It allows users to watch videos, play music, and several other things that would normally not be possible on a Factory DS. It also allows users to play pirated game ROMs.

I’m not quite sure of the police’s logic on this since the ability to be used for piracey does not in itself constitute an act of piracy. If that was true, people would be arrested for selling CD burners. In fact, if I’m not mistaking, many of these flash cart devices don’t even come out of the box with the ability to play ROMs. You have to download the firmware from the internet and install it on the cart yourself.

The mother, son, and a third individual were arrested in connection for selling the devices. All three deny any wrong doing.

Despite crackdowns like this, you can still find the devices readily available in Osaka Den Den town and Tokyo’s Akihabara. Looks like the police have their work cut out for them.

Via jin115.com