News emerged last night that Nintendo and The Pokemon Company have filed a lawsuit against Palworld developer Pocketpair claiming that the company had infringed on its patents. Today, the small indie company said that they are “beginning appropriate legal proceedings” and say that at this moment in time they are “unaware of the specific patents we are accused of infringing upon.”
The company went on to say that “It is truly unfortunate that we will be forced to allocate significant time to matters unrelated to game development due to this lawsuit. However, we will do our utmost for our fans, and to ensure that indie game developers are not hindered or discouraged from pursuing their creative ideas.” They thanked the fans for their support. You can read Pocketpair’s full statement down below:
“Yesterday, a lawsuit was filed against our company for patent infringement. We have received notice of this lawsuit and will begin the appropriate legal proceedings and investigations into the claims of patent infringement. At this moment, we are unaware of the specific patents we are accused of infringing upon, and we have not been notified of such details.
Pocketpair is a small indie game company based in Tokyo. Our goal as a company has always been to create fun games. We will continue to pursue this goal because we know that our games bring joy to millions of gamers around the world. Palworld was a surprise success this year, both for gamers and for us. We were blown away by the amazing response to the game and have been working hard to make it even better for our fans.
We will continue improving Palworld and strive to create a game that our fans can be proud of. It is truly unfortunate that we will be forced to allocate significant time to matters unrelated to game development due to this lawsuit. However, we will do our utmost for our fans, and to ensure that indie game developers are not hindered or discouraged from pursuing their creative ideas.
We apologize to our fans and supporters for any worry or discomfort that this news has caused. As always, thank you for your continued support of Palworld and Pocketpair. “
So even they don’t know what patents they are being accused of infringing upon.
If anyone is interested, here’s some patents people are speculating on:
Abstract: In a first mode, an aiming direction in a virtual space is determined based on a second operation input, and a player character is caused to launch, in the aiming direction, an item that affects a field character disposed on a field in the virtual space, based on a third operation input. In a second mode, the aiming direction is determined, based on the second operation input, and the player character is caused to launch, in the aiming direction, a fighting character that fights, based on the third operation input. Filed: May 2, 2024 Publication date: August 22, 2024
Abstract: In an example of a game program, a ground boarding target object or an air boarding target object is selected by a selection operation, and a player character is caused to board the selected boarding target object. If the player character aboard the air boarding target object moves toward the ground, the player character is automatically changed to the state where the player character is aboard the ground boarding target object, and brought into the state where the player character can move on the ground.
Filed: May 2, 2024 Publication date: August 29, 2024
These were filed after Palworld released so idk how they could be sued but I’m no lawyer.
that is a continuation of a 2021 patent, as in its still a 2021 patent https://patents.google.com/patent/JP7349486B2/en?oq=17%2f949%2c831
Ah, thanks for sharing. I guess that’s a pretty good candidate on what the lawsuit is about.
They know. They are just playing dumb. Please, everyone knows this game copied pokemon designs. It might be ‘legal’ if they are mixed up enough but doesn’t make it ethical.
See, I’m trying to approach this from a logical standpoint and you’re doing it form an emotional standpoint. If “everyone knows this game copied Pokemon designs” then why am I wondering what they copied?
For the record, I haven’t bought or played Palword so I’m not some fan coming to it’s defense here. I just know back when this was drama, I don’t remember seeing any legitimate examples of plagiarism… just hard reaches from people who don’t like Palword. I’d like to see something concrete so I’m curious what patent is actually being cited.
See this site: https://www.pcmag.com/news/palworlds-11-most-shameless-pokemon-knock-offs
This is just one of the probable arguments they are using. Pokémon monsters designs are copyrighted, Palworld is straight using same color palletes and designs that are too much of a resemblance to be considered mere “inspirations”.
I’m not seeing any copies. Just similarities. Looking at these pairs, I don’t think at any point I would confuse one for the other.
It’s likely a patent related to gameplay.
It is not about confusion, it is about a third party like Pocketpair doing a derivative game with mostly derivative designs with gameplay that is also derivative.
Either way, you are just pretending you don’t see or ignoring just like many others months ago.
No, I’m just looking at the situation with objectivity. In that link you sent, the only thing that seemed like it copied Pokemon was one of the Pals (?) looked like it had Blazikens legs… but that’s really nothing. And I’m really scratching my head on the anubis one and Lucario because the anubis pal has human jointed legs.
You have to understand that Pokemon doesn’t own the idea of caricatures of animal-like creatures. Or caricatures of elements of nature. Just because something looks like a chibi mammal and has a zigzag tail doesn’t mean it’s Pikachu.
They don’t own the concept of animal caricatures but they own the designs this game copies. Stop with the mental gymnastics.
Well, one could argue that the mental gymnastics is bringing up design in a discussion about a gameplay patent which is the focus of the lawsuit…
Anyways, you’ve already convinced yourself that they’ve copied Pokemon so there’s no use arguing with you. This is what I meant by logical vs emotional fyi.
I won’t reply anymore.
Logically, the game copies Pokémon’s essence to an extent that TPC felt their patent was being infringed. There is no need to deny the obvious, the designs are just one parcel of the copy.
How’s that Nintendo TM boot taste there, boot licker?
They may look similar in some ways but are differently designed another way, how much different can they look? To have adorable creatures accompany you
Your right. They actually don’t.
It’s the throwing a thing to catch a thing with odds based on a formula that’s shown to players with a number or colors to show odds of catching. It’s pretty pathetic. Nintendo should be stopped from absolutely crushing all these indie game developers.
Patents are only ever used and enforced for lawfare, and you won’t change my mind.
Pokémon is a monster collection game. Palworld is a sandbox survival game, with a capturable and fightsble pet feature.
Just because someone is pointing out something you don’t understand does mean there coming from an “emotional standpoint”. You not knowing something is not a logical failing on someone else.
What you’re saying is true but it’s not what’s actually happening here.
He doesn’t have an opinion past what he’s been told it is by his social group on reddit and discord.
Designs are copyright, they changed designs enough to pass IP challenges.
This is a patent suite because Nintendo thinks it owns the mechanics like throwing something, at a living creature, to capture said creature and use a math formula to give the user a chance % in numbers or by a color code.
Patents are completely worthless and they stifle competition and innovation.
It’s all they are used for is to keep the money flowing in the same pockets.
They are not even remotely comparable as games other then “oh monsters with guns”. It plays more like Ark, and the multiple other survival games that you can play on mobile and pc.
im very curious now of what they have been accused of, either the pokèmon company is grasping at straws for a quick buck and eliminate some competition or they found out something big about 3d assets stolen. either way i fucking despise both palworld and the pokèmon company so im gaining nothing from this.
I’m seeing some people post a patent from Nintendo and the Pokemon Co about… I guess basically the concept of flying mounts? Or maybe seamless transitioning of flying mounts to the ground? I’m not sure. Doesn’t seem like it would hold up in court imo.
https://patents.google.com/patent/JP7349486B2/en?oq=17%2f949%2c831 is the patent in question. And its only speculation anyway.
Patent infringement, which means they have a patent that existed prior to the game in question’s release that the game in question violated without paying them to use.
While none of the design is in fact an exact copy, there are systemic similarities all over the game, both in gameplay concept, general art style and specific designs, to make it clear there the willing intention to resemble the other product. This is beyond questioning and failing to notice it would require extreme naivety or ill-intent.
Palworld, while allegedly a good game, has harvested a significant success thanks to its outrageous similarities to Pokémon, and would not have had such diffusion if the similarities were less evident.
While I don’t know the exact patents being discussed, the intent to copy and usufruct trademarked intellectual property is blatantly obvious, and is one of the main drivers of the product’s success.
Are you just pasting messages from your reddit sub or your group chat on discord?
You sound like every other Nintendo sympathetic. How’s Nintendo’s boot taste?
Just a quick glance from big Japanese youtubers and their comment section shows overwhelming support for… wait for it… Nintendo. Basically majority of Japanese comments online said that Nintendo already did their due diligence a long time ago and can sue Pocket Pair anytime they want. But why now you ask? Most people theorized that it’s because of the recent collab between Aniplex/SonyMusic and Palword regarding merchs and multi-media development (Anime etc). This is the trigger for TPC/Nintendo to finally shot the bullet.
Nintendo is within its rights if they believe that there is copyright infringement, only a court or an arrangement with Pocketpair will prove them right or wrong….
We have to stop taking Nintendo for the bad guys, they do what they think is in their interest and any other company would have done the same
Then for having seen Palworld on video/live; the comparison with Pokemon is clear…To the point that I wondered if some creatures were not from Pokemon… (no I’m not talking about the famous mod)
It doesn’t mention copyright infringement, right? Just patent which most likely refers to gameplay concept patents. That would suggest it has nothing to do with the artistic design
I wonder what Patent? I haven’t seen Pokemon games go with its gameplay design at all
Well, Nintendo don’t want anything to be too identical to their IPs honestly. This is why the patent is being launch. I still don’t see what’s the problem right now.
Unless devs are stealing and plagirazing designs straight out of nintendo’s ips, pattents for gameplay mechanics SHOULD NOT BE A THING AT ALL, doesn’t matter if it makes a game look similar to another, or what? is nintendo gonna sue square enix or blizzard because their games also have mounts? nintendo didn’t invented said mechanics to begin with, and they are so universally used, the fact that the pattent when through it’s outrageous, why are people even defending this? who cares if palworld looks similar to pokemon? ultimately, pokemon is the bigger franchise, and it still strong despite the awful games they released and palworlds surprising success, which doesn’t ammount to much in comparison to the juggernaut that is pokemon, but ultimately, THEY DON’T OWN GAMEPLAY, they really don’t, nobody should at all, genres exist because of similar gameplay concepts.
It’s clear as day that tpc and nintendo are scared of palworld going big, and admitting they are insecure of their own franchise that they need to go full bully mode. I love their games, as devs, they are among the top, but as a company, especially in situations like these, they suck, and I hope they lose hard on this one.
Look up the Shironeko project lawsuit. This lawsuit is between 2 Japanese companies and with Japanese court patent laws. IANAL so take this with a grain of salt but there is a reason why Nintendo chose the Japanese court as the stage for this lawsuit and not the USA. Their chances of winning is way higher in Japan.
Nintendo wants to make sure nothing is too similar to their IPs, which is why they’re launching the patent. I’m still not sure what the issue is at the moment.
It’s unfortunate to see indie developers like Pocketpair facing such challenges. I admire their commitment to game development and appreciate their dedication to fans. Hoping for a fair resolution!
We were blown away by the amazing response to the game sakura school simulator
It’s interesting to see how the situation between Palworld’s developers, Nintendo, and The Pokémon Company is unfolding, especially with how creative similarities are being debated. Legal battles like this often set important precedents for the gaming industry and future developers. I’ve come across some useful insights on how such disputes are handled through Prince William Lawsuits which really adds context to cases like this. It’ll be worth watching how both sides present their arguments moving forward.