Nintendo and The Pokémon Company File Official Lawsuit Against Palworld Developer for 'Multiple' Patent Violations
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have officially filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, on September 18. The legal action seeks an injunction and compensation for damages, claiming that Palworld infringes on multiple patents.
In a statement, Nintendo reiterated its commitment to safeguarding its intellectual property, including the Nintendo brand, and stated that it will take necessary steps to protect what it has built over the years.
This lawsuit comes after months of speculation about potential legal action regarding Palworld, often described as "Pokémon with guns." Back in January, Nintendo announced its intention to investigate and take appropriate measures concerning possible infringement. A modder previously claimed that Nintendo targeted them after using Ash Ketchum in a Palworld clip.
However, by June, Pocketpair's CEO, Takuro Mizobe, said no complaints had been made by Nintendo or The Pokémon Company. He acknowledged his love and respect for Pokémon, having grown up with the franchise.
Palworld debuted in early access in January 2024 on Steam and Xbox Game Pass, gaining both massive success and controversy. Many Pokémon fans quickly pointed out the similarities, although Pocketpair maintained that Palworld was more akin to survival games like Ark Survival Evolved and Valheim. The backlash even led to the development team receiving death threats, according to their community manager.
