Nintendo sues Palworld devs for patent infringement, not copyright
posted Sunday Sep 22, 2024 by Scott Ertz
Ever since its introduction, Palworld has been destined for a showdown with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Out of the box, the game was described as "Pokémon with guns," essentially guaranteeing that they would be targeted eventually. This week, The Pokémon Company and Nintendo finally filed the inevitable lawsuit, however making a surprising claim. While everyone expected a copyright or IP infringement violation, the lawsuit alleges a violation of a patent.
What is Palworld?
Palworld is an action-adventure, survival, and monster-taming game developed by the Japanese indie game company Pocketpair. Set in the open-world environment of the Palpagos Islands, players control a customizable avatar from a third-person perspective. The game features a unique blend of survival mechanics and creature collection, where players must manage their hunger, craft tools, gather materials, and build bases that serve as fast travel points.
In Palworld, players encounter and interact with various animal-like creatures known as "Pals". These Pals can be captured, trained, and utilized for various tasks such as base building, combat, and traversal. The game has drawn comparisons to Pokémon due to its creature-collecting aspect, but it distinguishes itself with its survival-craft approach, making it more akin to a life simulator. The open-world design allows for extensive exploration and interaction with the environment and its inhabitants.
The game has gained significant attention and traction, especially after its launch into Steam Early Access. Players have been captivated by its unique gameplay mechanics and the freedom it offers in terms of exploration and interaction with Pals. Palworld's combination of survival elements, creature collection, and open-world exploration has made it a highly anticipated title in the gaming community.
A potential patent violation
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Pocketpair, the developers of Palworld. The lawsuit, filed in the Tokyo District Court, alleges that Palworld infringes on multiple patents related to the Pokémon franchise. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are seeking an injunction to stop the alleged infringement and are also demanding compensation for damages.
The lawsuit has garnered significant attention due to the similarities between Palworld and the Pokémon games. Palworld, often described by players as "Pokémon with guns," features mechanics such as capturing creatures with a device similar to a Pokéball and using these creatures for various tasks. Some players have noted that certain characters in Palworld bear a resemblance to Pokémon, further fueling the controversy.
Pocketpair has responded to the lawsuit by stating that they are unaware of the specific patents they are accused of infringing upon. The company has expressed its intention to investigate the claims and continue improving Palworld for its fans. Despite the legal challenges, Pocketpair remains committed to its goal of creating enjoyable games and has apologized to its supporters for any concerns the lawsuit may have caused.
The lead up to the lawsuit
In January, The Pokémon Company released its first response to the game, saying,
We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in that game. We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokémon.
This statement certainly opened the door for this lawsuit. However, a patent infringement suit was not the direction anyone expected the lawsuit to take.
