Nintendo and The Pokemon Company demand Palworld ban: studio PocketPair reveals the nature of the claims

In September, it was revealed that Nintendo and The Pokemon Company are suing Pocketpair Studios, which released the acclaimed Palworld game in early 2024.

The shooter with survival elements is so reminiscent of the famous Nintendo franchise that it is even called "Pokemon with guns".

Here's What We Know

It was immediately known that Nintendo and The Pokemon Company's claims are not about copied creature designs, but about the use of separate game mechanics patented for Pokemon.

Nintendo and The Pokémon Company claim that Palword's creators infringed three patents: 7545191, 7493117, and 7528390, which are filed in 2024, but are tied to existing patents, making them valid.

An example of plagiarism is cited as the fact that in Palword, like Pokemon, players catch virtual creatures by throwing special items and can ride them.

PocketPair claims that Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are demanding five million yen each (totalling about $65k) plus compensation for late payment. As punishment, the companies are pushing for an injunction to ban the game.

PocketPair will continue to assert their rights and prove their innocence.

Source: Pocketpair