Nintendo Targets Palworld with Patents

Nintendo has filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, in Tokyo District Court, seeking an injunction and damages for alleged patent infringement. Palworld, released in early access in January 2024, has gained significant popularity, with over 25 million players, rivaling the success of recent blockbuster games. The lawsuit is notable for targeting patent infringement rather than copyright infringement, sparking interest in the gaming industry. Nintendo's decision to pursue patent litigation may indicate a shift in strategy, as the company is known for its aggressive intellectual property protection. The lawsuit has sparked speculation about the specific patents involved, with some predicting that Nintendo may assert patents related to catching and riding "combat characters" or "airborne rideable characters". The Japanese patent attorney has identified 28 possible patents, with four Japanese issued patents being particularly relevant. The US counterpart applications, US-App-1, US-App-2, US-App-3, and US-App-4, have been filed, with US-App-3 and US-App-4 being filed after the release of Palworld. The first independent claims of US-App-3 and US-App-4 have been crafted to read on aspects of Palworld, and the patent applications are progressing at the USPTO. Nintendo will have the opportunity to amend its claims and argue against rejections, and the outcome of the lawsuit will be closely watched. The Palworld saga highlights the importance of intellectual property protection in the gaming industry, and Nintendo's actions demonstrate its commitment to defending its intellectual property rights.