That's nuts. I'm sure if the DMCA covered it, there'd be cases on record of it happening (too lazy to search). I have no doubt there's a cases for selling counterfeit games but to outlaw the possession of the cart itself is ridiculous. A 1 year sentence is even more ridiculous.
> the judge argued that "the mere fact that the device can be used for a non-infringing purpose is not a defence."
http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2010/01/british_r4_card_imp...
http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2010/07/high_court_outlaws_...
I assume the DMCA anti-circumvention rules let them make a similar argument in the US.