Nintendo’s legal attempt to shut down the game Palworld recently failed in court. Nintendo is well-known for aggressively protecting its intellectual property, and they quickly took notice when Palworld launched in January 2024. Palworld is similar to Pokémon in many ways, but with a key difference: instead of using powers or special abilities, the creatures battle using guns. Because of this, it’s been nicknamed “Pokémon with Guns,” and Nintendo promptly sued Pocketpair, claiming copyright infringement.
Nintendo’s lawsuit against the developers of the game Palworld, Pocketpair, recently hit a snag. According to WindowsCentral, the Japan Patent Office (JPO) rejected one of the patents Nintendo claimed was violated. The two companies have been in court since 2024, with Nintendo seeking around $33,000 in damages based on three patents. However, the JPO determined that one of those patents wasn’t innovative enough to be granted – meaning Nintendo couldn’t prove it was a unique invention at the time it was filed. The JPO pointed to similar games like ARK, Monster Hunter 4, and Pokémon GO as evidence.
Nintendo’s Lawsuit Against Pocketpair Could Be Derailed
Patent laws are complex everywhere, and Nintendo is facing a particularly tricky situation in Japan with three related patents. These patents are so connected that if one is rejected, it could jeopardize Nintendo’s entire case. The Japanese Patent Office (JPO) has illustrated just how intertwined they are, creating a major challenge for Nintendo. According to Gamesfray, the potential rejection is significant and could seriously harm Nintendo’s argument that Pocketpair violated at least one of the patents, as you can’t infringe on something that isn’t valid. Nintendo might try to withdraw its current claims and resubmit them with changes, which could be successful, but it’s uncertain what will happen.
Nintendo is well-known for aggressively protecting its inventions through lawsuits. This is a major reason why fewer YouTubers create gameplay videos of Nintendo games – they worry about being banned. While Palworld improves on Pokémon in some ways, the games clearly have similarities. Nintendo is attempting to convince a court that it has the exclusive right to create monster-collecting games, but it’s facing challenges. Japan’s patent office has indicated that this gameplay mechanic isn’t unique to Nintendo, suggesting the company may not win this lawsuit.
It’s still uncertain whether Nintendo will win its lawsuit against Pocketpair, and right now, the odds aren’t in their favor. While Nintendo has a possible route to victory, the small amount of money they’re asking for means they could end up spending more on the legal battle than they’d gain. Palworld continues to be popular and available on many platforms, and with a major new release planned for 2026, it might be too late for Nintendo to effectively address the competition, even if they prove Pocketpair copied their patented technology. These cases take a long time to resolve, and Palworld will likely be well-established by then.
What are your thoughts on Nintendo’s prospects? Share your opinion in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2025-10-30 03:10