Nintendo and 54 developers and publishers have filed suit in the Tokyo District Court to block the marketing, sales and importation of DS flash cart devices, which allow users to easily load pirated DS software onto flash media for play in Nintendo's handheld.

The devices—such as the R4 Revolution for DS and CycloDS Evolution, among others—are similar in form to standard Nintendo DS cartridges, while featuring a small slot for MicroSD cards which can be loaded with pirated DS games, homebrew software, utilities and other data.

In a statement reproduced by Kotaku, Nintendo said that the devices are "causing severe damage to our company and software makers, and this is something that we cannot possibly overlook."

The company added that the devices cause harm to the growth of the game industry as a whole, and that steps must be taken regarding the legality of flash cartridges. Other companies participating in the suit include Capcom, Square Enix, SNK, and Sega.

Though the suit carries legal weight only in Japan, it seems likely that Nintendo may eventually pursue a similar action in North America—such devices have proven quite popular in the territory, with the R4 and other devices for sale at numerous online retailers and in many independent game shops.

The UK-based Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association recently told MCV that it is considering legal action against merchants who sell the devices, stating that the R4 is an "infringement and an offense" against various copyright and patent acts.