Image Credit: Bethesda
Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Fenglope being petted in Palworld.
Screenshot by Dot Esports via Pocketpair YouTube

Palworld v Nintendo legal dispute, explained

Claims are just claims until something can be proven.

Palworld is one of 2024’s biggest hits, and was immediately compared to the Pokémon franchise as soon as it launched. Now, it seems Nintendo believes the similarities went too far, and has recently sued the game’s developer, Pocket Pair, for alleged patent infringements.

Recommended Videos

This is a massive and developing legal dispute, so here is everything we know about the Palworld vs. Nintendo lawsuit.

Nintendo’s lawsuit against Palworld, explained

A green Pal standing in a hilly forest area in Palworld.
Palwolrd has been compared with Pokémon ever since it launched. Image via Pocketpair

On Sept. 18 Nintendo, creators and owners of the Pokémon IP, filed a lawsuit against Pocket Pair Inc., the Tokyo-based developer of Palworld. In a statement released the following day on Sept. 19, Nintendo explained that the lawsuit “seeks an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages on the grounds that Palworld, a game developed and released by the Defendant, infringes multiple patent rights.” However, this statement doesn’t elaborate on which patents Palworld infringed upon, which was later reflected in a statement issued by Pocket Pair.

In its response, the indie developer clarified it received the lawsuit on Sept. 18 and that it was preparing accordingly, though at the time of its publishing the statement, Pocket Pair Inc. was “unaware of the specific patents we are accused of infringing upon, and we have not been notified of such details.”

Speaking for Yahoo Japan, Kiyoshi Kurihara, a Japanese patent attorney, analyzed the lawsuit and provided what might be the reasoning behind Nintendo’s move. In the analysis, translated and reported by Automaton, Kurihara said the most obvious similarities between Palwolrd and Pokémon “would not have been enough” to warrant a lawsuit of this kind. However, one particular mechanic from Palworld might be the culprit, which is the way players capture Pals by throwing a ball-like item at them.

“If there is any patent infringement to speak of, I think it would be this,” Kurihara said.

According to Automaton, the patent in question seems to be “Patent No. 7545191” from late July of this year, whose parent patent was registered in December of 2021, causing it to be “legally effective against Palworld.”

So, in conclusion, it appears Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are pursuing legal action against Palworld for allegedly copying Pokémon‘s manner of capturing monsters. Keep in mind that this is still speculative, and once we have a better grasp of the situation we’ll update this section.

Does Nintendo have a case against Palworld?

Pikachu in PokeWorld.
Pokémon is one of Nintendo’s largest franchises. Image via PokeWorld

As things stand, it is unclear whether or not Nintendo has an actual case against Palworld. Capturing animals in the wild is a basic human function that has persisted for a hundred thousand years. The ball in Palworld might just be another form of a trap or tool for hunting, and hunting tools likely aren’t able to be patented. Nevertheless, this particular case of throwing a ball at a creature might be enough to justify a patent, and thus its legal effectiveness.

We will be able to better determine whether or not Nintendo can actually press this far enough to win once more detailed information on the lawsuit emerges. At the time of writing, we do not know precisely what the Japanese corporation is pressing, nor does Pocket Pair, if its statement is anything to go by. Thus, we cannot offer sound judgement on the situation before Nintendo or Pocket Pair Inc. publish the likely lengthy details of the filing.


Dot Esports is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
More Stories To Read
Author
Image of Cale Michael
Cale Michael
Lead Staff Writer for Dota 2, the FGC, Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh!, and more who has been writing for Dot Esports since 2018. Graduated with a degree in Journalism from Oklahoma Christian University and also previously covered the NBA. You can usually find him writing, reading, or watching an FGC tournament.
Author
Image of Andrej Barovic
Andrej Barovic
Strategic Content Writer, English Major. Been in writing for 3 years. Focused mostly on the world of gaming as a whole, with particular interest in RPGs, MOBAs, FPS, and Grand Strategies. Favorite titles include Counter-Strike, The Witcher 3, Bloodborne, Sekrio, and Kenshi. Cormac McCarthy apologetic.