Analyzing the power structures in Super Mario games. I love overthinkingit.com so much.

Shareholder:

In connection with Nintendo’s basic strategy of “gaming population expansion”, I would like to ask about the handling of fan activities and intellectual properties. Recently, there are many fan magazines, original short movies, music bands, cosplay activities, websites, orchestras and so on, based on Nintendo’s titles. If these activities threaten Nintendo’s intellectual properties or licenses, will Nintendo crack down on them aggressively, or just view them as fan activities? If Nintendo has any policies, please let us know.

Satoru Iwata (President of Nintendo):

…Of course, we cannot say that we can give tacit approval to any and all the activities which threaten our intellectual properties. But on the other hand, it would not be appropriate if we treated people who did something based on affection for Nintendo, as criminals….

There is of course more to Satoru Iwata’s response and it is well worth reading as with the whole article which would take approx. 5 minutes to read.