Nintendo’s legal tussle with Pocketpair over the open-world survival game Palworld has hit another stumbling block. Reports suggest that the Japan Patent Office (JPO) has rejected one of Nintendo’s patents, citing a lack of originality.
Last September, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company announced a patent infringement lawsuit in Japan against Pocketpair’s Palworld. The lawsuit draws on three patents from the JPO, focused on monster capture and release, and character riding mechanics.
These patents, filed and approved in 2024, are based on earlier patents from 2021. Nintendo’s legal strategy appears to have concentrated on using these patents against Palworld’s alleged infringements. The case has been dynamic, with Nintendo even revising a patent related to mounts during the lawsuit, while also challenging the validity of mods as prior art.
However, one specific patent in the monster capture category filed in 2024 remains unapproved. In October, the JPO noted that the patent lacked an inventive step, leading to a provisional decision to reject it. The decision referenced older games with similar mechanics, like ARK (2015), Monster Hunter 4 (2013), and Kantai Collection (2013), as examples of pre-existing art. Pocketpair’s Craftopia (2020) and Niantic’s Pokémon Go (2016) were also mentioned to argue against the patent’s originality.
The Impact of JPO’s Decision
Although the JPO’s decision is not final, it could influence the ongoing lawsuit. The rejected application is closely tied to the primary monster capture patents (JP7505852 and JP7545191) being contested in the case. This development might cast doubt on the credibility of Nintendo’s patents, potentially bolstering Pocketpair’s defense that Palworld’s mechanics echo long-established systems from a variety of older games. As noted by an IP consultant, the examination of real-world games rather than just patent documents may complicate Nintendo’s claims.
Earlier, former Capcom developer Yoshiki Okamoto voiced criticism against Pocketpair and Palworld, which raised backlash. In a YouTube video, he remarked that Palworld had crossed an unacceptable line.
Upcoming Releases and Community Reactions
In the midst of legal disputes, Pocketpair announced Palworld: Palfarm shortly after Nintendo unveiled Pokémon Pokopia. Pocketpair also confirmed that Palworld would officially launch with its 1.0 version in 2026.
At the Game Developers Conference in March, Pocketpair’s communications director, John “Bucky” Buckley, discussed the controversies surrounding Palworld, addressing issues like generative AI use and alleged model theft. He expressed surprise at Nintendo’s lawsuit, noting it was unexpected and not something previously considered by the studio.