Nintendo's Patent Application for Pokémon Capture Mechanic Rejected by Japan Patent Office

The Japan Patent Office has denied Nintendo's patent application for the capture mechanic used in Pokémon games, citing a lack of inventive step. This decision comes after a third-party submission highlighted the existence of similar features in other games, including ARK, Monster Hunter 4, Craftopia, and Pokémon Go. Although the decision is not yet final, it may lead to the rejection of Nintendo's patent application. The company will likely need to revise its filing to address the concerns raised by the Japan Patent Office. This development may have implications for Nintendo's ongoing lawsuit against Palworld developer Pocketpair, as well as other patent applications that rely on this mechanic. Nintendo had previously filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair, alleging that Palworld infringes on multiple patent rights, and recently argued that mods should not be considered prior art. Meanwhile, Nintendo has secured a new patent in the US that protects a gameplay mechanic involving the summoning of sub-characters in battle.