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Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair for patent infringement, following the success of Palworld.
The legal action, announced through a press statement, was initiated in the Tokyo District Court on September 18.
The lawsuit claims that Palworld infringes multiple patents held by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. No additional details regarding the specific patents involved or the extent of the alleged infringement were provided in the initial statement.
What Led to the Lawsuit
The controversy surrounding Palworld’s similarities to Pokémon began immediately after the game’s release in January 2024, when it garnered over 25 million downloads in its first month.
While it’s not unusual for new games to build on the success of older, popular titles, many felt Palworld had a close resemblance to Pokémon.
Often described as “Pokémon with guns,” the game features creature companions called “Pals,” which bear a notable likeness to the iconic Pokémon creatures. Critics have pointed out similarities in gameplay mechanics, particularly how players use these creatures, suggesting that the designs and concepts closely mirror those of the Pokémon franchise.
In the lawsuit, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are seeking both an injunction to stop the alleged infringement and financial compensation for damages.
Nintendo in a press release emphasized its ongoing commitment to protecting its intellectual property, including patents and the Nintendo brand.
Similar to Pocketpair’s game Palworld, Cassette Beasts, another creature-collection game developed by Bytten Studio, has been scrutinized for its resemblance to Pokémon but has not faced legal action.
This situation raises important questions about how intellectual property laws are interpreted in the gaming industry and has thrown a Reddit gaming community into debate. While some see a strong resemblance between Pokémon and Palworld’s gameplay, others point out that the case might be a difficult one since Pokémon shares similar features with numerous other games.
