Pocketpair, the developer of the game Palworld, recently revealed three patents that are involved in a lawsuit against them by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The lawsuit claims patent infringement and seeks an injunction against the game, as well as compensation for damages.
The first patent, Patent No. 7545191, relates to aiming an object towards a character, such as aiming a Pokéball at a Pokémon. The second patent, Patent No. 7493117, involves catching a character, specifically creatures, in a field setting. The third patent, Patent No. 7528390, focuses on riding creatures.
Pocketpair has stated that they will continue to defend their position in future legal proceedings. The lawsuit was filed by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company on September 18, alleging that Palworld infringes on their patent rights. Pocketpair responded by stating they were unaware of the specific patents being infringed upon and will investigate the claims.
Players and critics have noted similarities between the designs of Palworld’s “Pal” creatures and Pokémon, leading to investigations by The Pokémon Company. Despite the initial launch on PS5 in 68 countries and territories, the game did not release in Japan on the same day but was eventually released on September 27.
Pocketpair initially launched Palworld as a Steam Early Access game, reaching 25 million users within a month. They later established a joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment Japan Inc. and Aniplex named Palworld Entertainment. Additionally, they signed a licensing agreement with South Korean game developer Krafton to expand the game’s IP to mobile platforms.
The future of Palworld and the outcome of the lawsuit with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company remain uncertain, but Pocketpair is committed to defending their position and continuing their legal proceedings. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
