Janice R. Andrews
Gaming giants Nintendo and the Pokémon Company have initiated legal action against Palworld developer Pocketpair, seeking ¥10 million (approximately $65,700) in damages over alleged patent violations. According to Pocketpair’s recent statement, each company is demanding ¥5 million, citing patent rather than copyright infringement.
The legal action represents a departure from Nintendo’s typically larger settlements, like the $2.4 million agreement with Yuzu emulator creator Tropic Haze. This case’s distinctive feature is its focus on patent law rather than copyright claims, as indicated in the original September filing.
The disputed patents, which cover gameplay elements like battle systems and monster-riding mechanics, were only secured after Palworld’s early access launch. The first relevant patent was issued on May 22, 2024, well after the game’s release on Steam and Xbox Game Pass.
The damages sought specifically relate to the period following the patent registrations, as noted by Pocketpair. This timing has influenced the legal strategy and potential scope of the case.
Prior to this development, Pocketpair’s CEO Takuro Mizobe had maintained that Palworld underwent legal review before release, suggesting confidence in avoiding patent conflicts. The Tokyo District Court will evaluate these claims next week as both parties present their initial arguments regarding the patents’ validity and enforcement.
This case marks another instance of Nintendo and the Pokémon Company’s vigorous intellectual property protection efforts, while testing new ground in patent law application to post-release situations.
