Nintendo of America's general counsel to retire in spring

Richard Flamm, Nintendo of America's general counsel for 12 years, will retire in spring.

"We sincerely appreciate and want to recognise all Rick has accomplished, not only for Nintendo of America, but also for Nintendo globally," said company chairman Tatsumi Kimishima.

"His passion for the business and the outstanding efforts and results of his team are unparalleled."

Flamm has spent 19 years with the company, managing the anti-piracy team, and becoming general counsel in 1999. There he was victorious over counterfeit Pokemon products, adult websites trying to use Nintendo characters and cyber squatters.

Recently in 2010 he won a long running battle with Anascape over the Wii's Classic Controller.