In 1999, Nintendo got a woman in Japan arrested over - and get this - sharing erotic fan art. I’ve read they also might’ve sent private detectives to stalk after her before the arrest, but couldn’t find anything quickly. Anyway it sparked a big shit storm and a debate about what copyright holders are allowed to do, legally and morally.

It’s not even the first time they’ve done this shit

I mean, they are located in Japan, so it’s not like Yakuza don’t exist (though to be fair Yakuza don’t really target foreigners).

You could ask the same thing of Wizards of the Coast who sent goons to a guy’s house over some Magic The Gathering cards.

We live in an age where these two things are becoming interchangeable.

Yes.

I read an article about a leather artist who recycled secondhand Gucci (I think? It was a big name fashion brand is all I recall) bags into wallets and things like that, and despite everything being clearly labeled to make sure nobody could mistake it for an official product, they had a similar experience. I wish I could find the article again, because I don’t remember what came of it and my search skills are failing me.

They are from Japan, so yakuza? They probably just hire local muscle, though.