Palworld Developer Responds to Nintendo and The Pokémon Company's Lawsuit

The 2024 breakout hit Palworld has found itself at the center of a lawsuit filed by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. The lawsuit, announced in September, accuses Pocketpair, the developer behind Palworld, of infringing upon various patents held by the gaming giants.

Three Patents in Question

In a recent statement on their website, Pocketpair revealed that the lawsuit pertains to three specific patents owned by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. These patents, numbered 7545191, 7493117, and 7528390, are directly related to the catching and riding mechanics in Palworld. Notably, while the patents were officially filed after Palworld's release, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company initiated the patent process in 2021, prior to the arrival of Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

Details of the Lawsuit

According to Pocketpair, the lawsuit claims that Palworld infringes upon the mentioned patents, with Nintendo and The Pokémon Company seeking an injunction against the game, as well as compensation for damages incurred between the date of patent registration and the lawsuit filing date.

The statement from Pocketpair read:

"[...] The Plaintiffs claim that Palworld, released by us on January 19, 2024, infringes upon the following three patents (7545191, 7493117, and 7528390) held by the Plaintiffs, and are seeking an injunction against the game and compensation for a portion of the damages incurred between the date of registration of the patents and the date of filing of this lawsuit. [...] We will continue to assert our position in this case through future legal proceedings."

The Curious Case of Damages

What's striking about this lawsuit is the relatively modest amount of damages sought by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company. Specifically, both companies are suing for five million Yen, plus additional "late payment damages," which translates to approximately $65,000 in total.

The Road Ahead

While the amount of damages might be relatively minor, Pocketpair's decision to either accept the terms or fight the lawsuit in court will have significant implications. If they accept the terms, they will be required to alter Palworld to account for the patented mechanics. On the other hand, contesting the lawsuit could result in substantial legal fees.

The outcome of this lawsuit remains uncertain, with Pocketpair's next steps yet to be revealed. One thing is clear, however: the Palworld lawsuit is far from over.