Sega Files Lawsuit Against Memento Mori Developer

Sega Files Lawsuit Against Memento Mori Developer

Key Takeaways

  • Sega is suing Bank of Innovation for $6.6 million over patent infringement in its mobile game Memento Mori.
  • Bank of Innovation denies any infringement and vows to keep Memento Mori available.
  • This legal action may indicate a new trend of larger studios suing smaller ones over hit games.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I find myself increasingly concerned about the state of our beloved industry. The recent legal battles between giants like Sega and smaller studios such as Bank of Innovation are casting a long shadow over the indie scene.


Sega, the game publisher, has initiated a lawsuit against Bank of Innovation, creators of the mobile role-playing game “Memento Mori.” This move by Sega follows closely on the heels of Nintendo’s legal action against Pocketpair, the developers of “Palworld.

Memento Mori” is a mobile game where various gacha elements are incorporated. In this title, players assume command of girls who possess extraordinary abilities, aiming to rescue a realm from the clutches of darkness. The game boasts a captivating watercolor aesthetic and an extensive soundtrack, with each character having their unique theme song crafted specifically for them.

Based on reports from GamesIndustry.biz, citing Otaku Research Institute, Sega is filing a lawsuit against Bank of Innovation for approximately $6.6 million (1 billion yen) in damages. The claim states that Bank of Innovation has violated several patents belonging to Sega, which are featured in the games Memento Mori and Phantom Beast Contract Cryptract, an older title developed by them. Bank of Innovation denies these allegations and plans to prove its case in court. They also confirmed that Memento Mori will remain available for download, regardless of the lawsuit’s outcome.

Mobile Developer Behind Memento Mori Is Being Sued by Sega

As a gamer speaking about the situation, I’d say: Dr. Serkan Toto pointed out that Bank of Innovation, a relatively small game studio, suffered heavy losses amounting to approximately ¥1 billion due to an incident. He noted that negotiations between the studio and Sega, the publisher, didn’t lead to a satisfactory agreement, which ultimately resulted in a lawsuit being filed. Dr. Toto also hinted at a potential trend emerging in the gaming industry, where larger Japanese studios might pursue legal action against smaller ones experiencing success, like the recent lawsuit by Sega following Nintendo’s move against Palworld developer Pocketpair.

As a passionate gamer, I’m following the news about Sega taking legal action against Bank of Innovation for allegedly infringing on five patents they hold, including Japanese Patent No. 5930111. One of these patents involves a mechanism designed to tackle the psychological strain that comes with low drop rates in games, particularly rare cards, by enabling mobile games to be played without constantly needing multiple control items. It’s unclear at this point how this will affect Bank of Innovation financially, and we gamers can only wait and see what happens as a result of Sega’s lawsuit. The potential ripple effects on the industry, such as Dr. Toto’s prediction, remain to be seen, given this development along with the ongoing Nintendo lawsuit.

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2024-10-23 13:35