Palworld Dev Reveals Patents at the Heart of Nintendo and The Pokémon Company Lawsuit — and How Much Money It’s Being Sued For

ign.com:

Palworld developer Pocketpair has provided an update onNintendo and The Pokémon Company’s high-profile patent lawsuit against the company.

According to Pocketpair, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company want 5 million yen (approx $32,846) each plus late payment damages, as well as an injunction against Palworld that would block its release.

Pocketpair also confirmed the Japan-based patents, which revolve around catching Pokémon in a virtual field, that it's being sued for allegedly infringing. After Palworld’s huge launch earlier this year on PC and Xbox, comparisons were made between Palworld’s Pals and Pokémon, with some accusing Pocketpair of "ripping off" Pokémon designs. But rather than file a copyright infringement lawsuit, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have gone down the patent route.

It is worth noting that Palworld does include a mechanic that involves throwing a ball-like object (called a Pal Sphere) at monsters out in a field to capture them, similar to the mechanic seen in the 2022 Nintendo Switch exclusive Pokémon Legends: Arceus. One of the other patents in question is about riding on top of Pokémon (Palworld also lets players ride Pals).

Pocketpair said Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are seeking an injunction against the game and compensation for a portion of the damages incurred between the date of registration of the patents and the date of filing of the lawsuit (September 18, 2024).

Here are the target patents:

Pocketpair has vowed to take on Nintendo and The Pokémon Company in court, saying: “We will continue to assert our position in this case through future legal proceedings.”

Patent experts have said Nintendo and The Pokémon Company’s lawsuit against Pocketpair is evidence of the threat posed by Palworld, which has since gone on to launch on PS5.

In an article on GI.biz, intellectual property expert and associate at law firm MBHB Andrew Velzen argued that the shock lawsuit shows “just how seriously Nintendo views the threat of Palworld.”

Palworld