New Details Emerge on Nintendo’s Lawsuit Against Palworld Devs Over Alleged Pokémon Patent Infringement

As a veteran gamer who has witnessed the evolution of the gaming industry since the days of Pong and Space Invaders, I must say that the ongoing lawsuit between Nintendo and PocketPair over Palworld feels like a familiar tune. It seems that patent disputes have become as common as power-ups in this digital battlefield we call gaming.

Fresh information has come to light regarding a legal dispute between Nintendo and PocketPair concerning the game Palworld, with accusations of potential patent infringement related to Pokémon.

Earlier today, it was reported by PocketPair that Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are pursuing approximately $66,000 USD in damages due to claims of patent violation.

As reported by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company, the developers at PocketPair allegedly violated three distinct patents of theirs.

This patent, identified by the number 7545191, was filed on July 30, 2024, and approved on August 27, 2024.)

The patent with the number 7493117 was applied for on February 26, 2024 and registered on May 22, 2024.

Patent No. 7528390[Patent application date: March 5, 2024]
[Patent registration date: July 26, 2024]

There’s been some debate online about the validity of Nintendo’s patents due to their application dates. Some people wonder if Nintendo can legally take action regarding patents that were filed and granted following the launch of Palworld (released on January 19, 2024). To clarify, Nintendo has employed a strategy known as ‘Parent Patenting,’ where they link the new patents to older ones, thereby ensuring their validity.

According to PocketPair, they plan to uphold their stance in this court case by pursuing further legal actions regarding the ongoing lawsuit. Specifically, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have demanded: