Upon its launch earlier this year, Palworld achieved staggering popularity, momentarily overshadowing even the massively popular Fortnite. However, this level of success brought its own complications, sparking speculation about how long The Pokémon Company would turn a blind eye to a game that features “Pokémon with guns.”
Initially, it seemed that The Pokémon Company and Nintendo might allow the developers at Pocketpair to proceed without repercussions. This was noteworthy considering Nintendo’s well-documented track record of defending its intellectual property through legal action. However, shortly after Palworld’s debut, The Pokémon Company issued a statement indicating that it was investigating the situation, more than hinting at concerns about potential violations of intellectual property linked to the Pokémon franchise.
Fast forward to September 19, 2024, and it appears the investigation has concluded. Nintendo, along with The Pokémon Company, has filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair for allegedly infringing on several patents.
Oof
In their official announcement, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company stated, “This legal action seeks a court order to stop infringement and seek damages, based on claims that Palworld, created and launched by the Defendant, violates a number of patent rights.”
Being a Japanese indie studio, Pocketpair will have to contest this case in the Tokyo District Court.
Responding to the lawsuit, Pocketpair expressed, “Currently, we do not have clarity on the specific patents we are being accused of infringing, nor have we received further details… It’s unfortunate that we now have to divert considerable resources away from game development due to this legal action.”
Generally, I wholeheartedly support independent developers in their clashes with large corporations. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that players catch Pals in an open world, and some of these Pals bear a striking resemblance to Pokémon characters. Nintendo is well-known for vigorously defending its intellectual property, making the lawsuit somewhat predictable.
My hope is that Nintendo does not drive Pocketpair out of business with this lawsuit. After all, other franchises like Digimon have successfully coexisted alongside Pokémon. Additionally, since Palworld has partnerships with Sony and anime production house Aniplex, there’s potential for Pocketpair to revise the concept of “Pals” to further distinguish them from Pokémon. If this evolution takes place and is justly rewarded, it could contribute to a more distinct and enriched identity for Palworld.
Do you really want your title to be perpetually labeled as “Pokémon with guns”?
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