Jamie Hughes
Associate Photography Editor
Pocketpair, Inc., the developers of the popular survival game “Palworld,” are being sued by Nintendo and The Pokemon Company. Pocketpair has been in the spotlight for their game, which has design inspirations from The Pokemon Company’s multimedia franchise “Pokemon.” However, despite the claims by the public of “Palworld” stealing creature designs from the “Pokemon” franchise, the plaintiffs are instead trying a different angle: patent infringement.
In their statement, Nintendo says they will “continue to take necessary actions against any infringements of its intellectual property,” a common statement Nintendo makes publicly when they are involved in a lawsuit over their intellectual property. Pocketpair responded through their “Palworld” account on X, formerly Twitter, that they “have received notice of the lawsuit and will begin the appropriate legal proceedings.”
According to Nintendo in their press release, “Palworld” infringes on “multiple patent rights,” though Pocketpair has stated that Nintendo has not disclosed to them which patents their company has infringed upon. Nintendo is seeking “an injunction against infringement and compensation” for Pocketpair’s alleged infringement.
In the wake of the announcement, many people online began to speculate about why Nintendo chose patents as the reason for the lawsuit, and why Nintendo would not disclose the exact patents infringed. While not confirmed, arguments of the lawsuit amounting to anti-competitive behavior on Nintendo’s part have become a major discussion topic. The outcome of the lawsuit, many have discussed, may determine the future of games that are inspired by “Pokemon,” which could have wide-ranging effects on the gaming industry worldwide.