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A prominent Italian YouTuber, Francesco Salicini, known for his popular retro gaming channel ‘Once Were Nerd,’ is reportedly facing severe legal consequences after his home was raided by police. The investigation stems from his reviews of Android-based retro gaming handhelds that allegedly contained preloaded ROMs. Salicini himself has indicated that merely discussing these pre-installed pirated games on his channel could lead to significant jail time under Italian law.
In a recent video titled “They Reported Me,” Salicini detailed the alarming incident, stating that the Economic and Financial Crimes unit of the Italian police conducted a raid on his residence on April 15. During the operation, authorities confiscated approximately 30 gaming consoles, including popular handheld devices from brands like TrimUI, Powkiddy, and Anbernic. These devices were reportedly bundled with microSD cards containing thousands of classic game ROMs. His personal mobile phone was also seized, though it was later returned in late June.
Salicini was informed he is being investigated under Article 171 of Italian law, which strictly prohibits the promotion of content infringing upon intellectual property rights. He claims the official complaint specifically references the alleged illegal reproduction of copyrighted material from major gaming entities like Sony and Nintendo. However, the exact origin of the complaint remains ambiguous; it is currently unclear whether Sony or Nintendo directly filed the charges, or if Italian law enforcement initiated the action independently.
Under Italian legal protocols, law enforcement agencies are not obligated to disclose the precise charges or the identity of the complainant. Authorities have asserted that Salicini’s video reviews, particularly those featuring Anbernic devices shipped with pirated ROMs, directly contravened Italian copyright legislation.
The implications for Salicini are severe. Should he be found guilty, penalties could range from substantial financial fines to a prison sentence of up to three years. Furthermore, his popular YouTube channel, boasting over 50,000 subscribers, faces the potential threat of deactivation.
In his defense, Salicini maintains that his video reviews do not amount to the promotion of pirated content. He has also categorically denied receiving sponsorship for Anbernic product reviews or incorporating affiliate links within his video descriptions. The YouTuber has confirmed that he has retained legal counsel and is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation. To assist with mounting legal fees, he has also initiated a GoFundMe campaign.
For context, Anbernic is a prominent Chinese manufacturer widely recognized for its range of retro gaming handheld consoles. These devices are designed to emulate classic platforms like the NES, SNES, Sega Genesis, Game Boy, PlayStation, and Nintendo 64. Typically operating on Android or Linux systems, these handhelds are frequently sold bundled with microSD cards preloaded with an extensive collection of retro game ROMs.