Nintendo’s patent relevant to the Palworld case has been rejected by Japan’s office for lacking originality — what happens next?

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Nintendo’s legal battle against Palworld’s developer, Pocketpair, has encountered a setback. Japan’s Patent Office rejected one of Nintendo’s key patents related to “monster capture” technology – a patent central to their case currently being heard in court. The JPO stated the patent lacked originality, citing existing games like ARK, Monster Hunter 4, Craftopia, Kantai Collection, and even Pokémon GO as evidence that similar ideas already existed.

This recent development is particularly significant for Xbox players, especially those who discovered Palworld through Xbox Game Pass. It strengthens Pocketpair’s claim that Palworld doesn’t simply copy Nintendo’s games, but instead takes inspiration from and expands upon ideas that have been used in gaming for many years.

A tangled patent family tree

A recent report from Gamesfray explains why a patent rejection is important for the ongoing legal case between Nintendo and Pocketpair. The official patent information shows that these patents are closely linked. Specifically, the newly rejected application (2024-031879) is based on a previously approved Nintendo patent (JP7505852) that’s currently part of their lawsuit against Pocketpair. Another approved patent (JP7545191), originating from a different filing (2024-123560), is also being used in the case.

This isn’t a minor or unrelated document; it’s directly connected to the main patents involved in the case. If the Japanese Patent Office determines one of these related patents isn’t new or inventive, it could cast doubt on the validity of the others.

As GamesFray points out, the reason Nintendo’s patent application 2024-031879 was rejected could have a big impact. The same argument – that the invention wasn’t new or obvious given existing technology – could also be used against the other patents Nintendo is defending in court.

Pocketpair’s fingerprints might be on the prior art submission

The Japan Patent Office’s records indicate someone submitted existing technology earlier this year that was used as the basis for this rejection. While the JPO doesn’t reveal who submitted it, the timing suggests it may have been Pocketpair, as they filed similar evidence in court in April 2025.

GamesFray previously reported that Pocketpair provided a long list of games – including ARK, Tomb Raider, Zelda, Titanfall 2, and Rune Factory 5 – to their legal team. This was done to prove that the gameplay features Nintendo is questioning already existed in other games before Palworld was created.

You can find our detailed analysis of the legal filing here: Palworld’s creators are disputing Nintendo’s patents by pointing to similar features in popular games like Zelda, ARK: Survival, Tomb Raider, and Titanfall 2, among others.

Pocketpair pointed to mods like Pixelmon (a Minecraft mod) and NukaMon (a Fallout 4 mod) as examples of similar content created by players, arguing that this type of fan-made content has existed for a long time and isn’t new, therefore challenging Nintendo’s claims about originality.

Earlier this year, Nintendo surprisingly argued that modifications made by fans shouldn’t be considered existing technology when evaluating patents. This stance was criticized for attempting to narrow the definition of what’s considered “publicly known” technology. (GamesFray, September 16, 2025)

Why this matters for the Palworld case

The JPO’s ruling won’t directly decide the Tokyo court case – that will be decided separately. However, it could still have an impact. Judges frequently consider the technical expertise of patent examiners, even though they aren’t required to follow their findings.

This decision weakens Nintendo’s argument that its patents safeguard unique and innovative game mechanics. If Japan’s patent office disagrees, that claim quickly becomes less believable.

This decision also creates problems for Nintendo’s remaining patent, which reports indicate has already been changed during the legal battle – a possible indication that Nintendo is becoming increasingly concerned.

Recent leaks suggest Nintendo is developing a new Pokémon game inspired by the survival mechanics of Palworld. If true, this could be the reason Nintendo is now aggressively trying to control similar gameplay features, which now seem more commercially appealing.

What happens next with Nintendo and Palworld?

Nintendo has 60 days from October 22nd to address the concerns raised. They can revise the patent claims or explain why the examiner’s decision is incorrect. If they can’t resolve the issue, they can appeal, which could extend the process until 2026.

The legal battle against Pocketpair is still ongoing in Tokyo, but Nintendo’s position is becoming less secure. If more of their patent claims are denied, it could significantly harm their lawsuit.

No matter the outcome, this situation proves that Pocketpair’s legal approach – referencing similarities to games like ARK and Monster Hunter – is working in their favor.

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2025-10-29 14:40