Summary
Palworlddeveloper Pocketpair has shared an update on Nintendo’s lawsuit against it. The move saw the company reveal the exact patents thatPalworldis accused of infringing, as well as the plaintiff’s demands.
Nintendo and The Pokemon Company jointly sued Pocketpairin mid-September 2024, alleging thatPalworldwas infringing on a number of their patents. Pocketpair called the litigation “unfortunate” at the time, with a company representative stating that the case would likely become a major distraction from its game development efforts.
Six weeks later, the Japanese studio has now offered anupdateon the case, sharing some of the first specifics of Nintendo and The Pokemon Company’s claims and demands. Pocketpair hence revealed that the plaintiffs are accusingPalworldof infringing on three of their patents, identified by patent numbers 7545191, 7493117, and 7528390. In doing so, it has confirmed the leadingtheory behind the patents central to Nintendo’sPalworldlawsuit, which was originally shared by Japan-based IP attorney Kiyoshi Kurihara.
Palworld Is Accused of Infringing Nintendo Patents for Pokemon-Like Creature Capture
The intellectual property in question describes a system forPokemon-like creature capture that incorporates two inputs, an analog stick for aiming and a button press for releasing a capture item like a Poke Ball. One of the included patents also describes a system for calculating the capture rate of a target creature after these actions are performed, which is then used to determine whether the attempt was successful.Palworld’s Pal Spherescould ostensibly constitute an infringement of this patented technology.
Although Pocketpair characterized these patents as only being submitted in 2024, that’s not the whole story. While their latest applications were indeed all authored between February and July 2024, afterPalworldwas already out, Game Rant discovered that their initial priority filings date back to 2021. Those early applications were only submitted in Japan, which would explain why Nintendo and The Pokemon Company have so far only sued Pocketpair in the Far Eastern country, as patent rights are country-specific.
Nintendo Is Demanding Modest Damages From Palworld Developer
Pocketpair also revealed that Nintendo and The Pokemon Company are demanding 10 million yen (~$65,600)—¥5 million each—and late payment damages for the alleged infringements. While that’s a modest figure relative to thesuccessPalworldhas enjoyed so far, the plaintiffs also seek an injunction that would prevent the game’s future sales in Japan. Pocketpair said that it intends to continue asserting its position on the case via future legal proceedings, suggesting that its overall stance hasn’t changed and that it intends to fight the lawsuit.
Source:Nintendo and The Pokemon Company / Google Patents
Palworld
WHERE TO PLAY
In this game, you can peacefully live alongside mysterious creatures known as Pals or risk your life to drive off a ruthless poaching syndicate. Pals can be used to fight and breed, or they can be made to work on farms or factories. You can even sell them or eat them.Survival: In a harsh environment where food is scarce and vicious poachers roam, danger waits around every corner. To survive, you must tread carefully and make difficult choices…even if that means eating your own Pals when the time comes.Mounts & Exploration: Pals can be mounted to traverse the land, sea and sky—allowing you to traverse all kinds of environment as you explore the world.Collect all kinds of exciting Pals to fight, farm, build, and work for you in this completely new multiplayer, open world survival and crafting game!
