Nintendo and The Pokémon Company Pursue Legal Action Against Palworld Developer Pocketpair Over Patent Infringement

Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have escalated their legal efforts against Pocketpair, the Japanese video game developer behind the hit title Palworld.

The lawsuit, announced in an official statement on Pocketpair’s website, highlights an ongoing dispute that has drawn significant industry attention.

Released on January 19, 2024, Palworld quickly gained traction for its creature-collecting gameplay reminiscent of Nintendo’s iconic Pokémon franchise, prompting the scrutiny now at the center of legal proceedings. According to Pocketpair’s recent press release, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company allege that Palworld infringes upon three patents they hold.

One of these patents describes a gameplay mechanic in which a character tosses a ball to capture another character within a virtual environment—an interaction notably similar to a core element of Pokémon games.

The plaintiffs are seeking not only monetary damages but also an injunction that could significantly impact Palworld’s availability and gameplay mechanics moving forward. Pocketpair conveyed, "The plaintiffs assert that Palworld, which we launched in January 2024, violates three of their patents and are pursuing both an injunction and damages covering the period between the patent registrations and the date of this lawsuit." The total amount sought in damages is ¥10 million (approximately $65,500 USD), split evenly between Nintendo and The Pokémon Company.

While the sum is modest compared to typical industry lawsuits, the outcome could set a precedent affecting similar games and mechanics in the broader gaming landscape. The greater focus of the lawsuit lies in the requested injunction.

In legal terms, an injunction compels a party to halt a particular activity or face consequences.

Here, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company demand that Pocketpair remove any features from Palworld found to infringe on their patents.

Such an order, if granted, would force significant changes to Palworld’s gameplay structure and send a clear message about the boundaries of game design borrowing within the industry. The patents referenced in the lawsuit were filed earlier this year, suggesting they may be a direct response to Palworld’s growing popularity on various platforms, including the PC and, via player demand, community discussion about a potential Nintendo Switch release.

Nintendo’s stance is firm, continuing its legacy of protecting its intellectual property through legal channels, as seen in past high-profile litigation involving both hardware and software innovations linked to the Nintendo Switch and its ecosystem, including the eShop and Nintendo Direct announcements. Pocketpair’s rapid ascent in the gaming world has been noteworthy, and the outcome of this case will be closely watched by developers and industry analysts alike.

This legal challenge serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between inspiration and infringement, particularly in the competitive realm of creature-collection adventure games. As the lawsuit proceeds, all eyes are on the Tokyo-based companies as they navigate this high-stakes dispute.

The case’s resolution will undoubtedly influence both the future of Palworld and the approaches of other companies developing content inspired by long-standing video game franchises.

Pokémon Nintendo The Pokémon Company Palworld Pocketpair Pokémon Company patent developer Nintendo Switch