Nintendo's appeal to the Hong Kong High Court for help in stopping the illegal activities of a global piracy of operation has proved to be a success, after Nintendo representatives seized more than 10,000 game copying devices and mod-chips.

The copying machines allow DS game files to be copied, which are then distributed via the internet. The mod chips are said to be for the Wii, allowing users to play pirated games which can also be downloaded from the internet.

The raid took place on October 8th at the Supreme Factory Limited in Hong Kong and as a result the court has ordered the company to halt distribution and dispose of some of its assets worldwide.

"Piracy affects the entire video game industry, from large companies to independent developers," says Jodi Daugherty, Nintendo of America's senior director for anti-piracy. "It can destroy years of hard work by a team of very talented software developers, who strive to create games consumers enjoy playing. Copying the developers' work and spreading the game files globally is blatant stealing."

It's claimed that Nintendo and a number of other companies tied in with the manufacturer havet lost an estimated $762 million in sales due to counterfeits in 2006.

This action is one of several that Nintendo has initiated over the years against game copiers and mod chips. In 2005, Nintendo was awarded more than $5 million in damages from the Hong Kong High Court against Lik Sang, a company responsible for the widespread distribution of game copying devices. In another case, a U.S. judge ordered Bung Enterprises to pay Nintendo $7 million in damages in connection with its involvement in manufacturing and distribution of such products.