Nintendo Patent Reexamination Ordered: Legal Setback for Pokémon Company Amid Palworld Dispute

Nintendo recently encountered another significant hurdle in its ongoing intellectual property dispute surrounding Palworld, as the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has ordered a formal reexamination of one of the company’s notable patents linked to Pokémon gameplay mechanics.

The decision, confirmed by senior USPTO official John Squires, stems from the discovery of potential “prior art” in earlier patents, including a 2002 filing by Konami and a 2019 patent registered by Nintendo itself. Originally, this patent, designed to protect a gameplay system allowing users to summon sub-characters to fight on their behalf, was granted to Nintendo without objection.

However, Squires noted that the previously issued Konami and Nintendo patents present important considerations in deciding whether the current claims truly warrant protection.

Both filings have raised “substantial new questions of patentability,” according to Squires’ official statement, challenging the uniqueness of Nintendo’s claims. Industry analysts point out that a reexamination ordered by the USPTO does not guarantee a rejection of Nintendo’s patent, but it does introduce considerable uncertainty to the company's legal strategy.

Florian Mueller of Games Fray observed that the reexamination significantly weakens the credibility of Nintendo’s claim, especially given the similarities identified with prior art.

Mueller further explained that the increased scrutiny likely stems from public reaction to the original patent application, emphasizing that patent systems rely on checks and reexaminations to maintain fairness and accuracy. The impact of this development directly affects Nintendo’s ongoing legal efforts against Pocketpair, the developer behind Palworld—a title that has drawn attention for its similarities to Pokémon games.

The patent in question forms a core component of Nintendo’s case as it seeks to enforce its intellectual property rights.

Recent events have added to Nintendo’s legal challenges, including a decision in Japan when its patent on the core Pokémon catching mechanic was rejected for lacking inventive originality, with authorities stating that the system could easily have been conceived by experts in the field. Current legal projections indicate that no major decisions will be reached in Nintendo’s disputes with Palworld, or other patents involved, within the current year.

According to experts, final rulings are likely to arrive by 2026, notably under the jurisdiction of Presiding Judge Motoyuki Nakashima at the Tokyo District Court’s patent division.

As the patent reexamination process unfolds, eyes across the gaming industry remain fixed on the outcome, given the potential for lasting impact on game development, intellectual property enforcement, and the evolution of iconic franchises such as Pokémon on platforms including the Nintendo Switch and eShop. Nintendo, renowned for its innovation and influence both in game development and hardware—from the Nintendo Switch to its extensive digital eShop presence—now faces a critical test in defending its creative ownership.

The developments in this case underscore the importance of rigorous patent examination processes and their role in shaping the future of interactive entertainment.

Pokémon Konami Nintendo Xbox Series X|S Palworld Pokémon Company patent S U Xbox X|S US Patent Office John Squires Pocketpair Games Fray Florian Mueller Tokyo District Court