Pokémon Company Takes Chinese Game to Court Over Copyright Infringement

The Pokémon Company has initiated legal action against several Chinese companies, alleging that their mobile game infringes upon its copyrights. According to a report by the South China Morning Post, one of the defendants, Jiangyin Zhongnan Heavy Industries Co, recently disclosed the lawsuit in a stock exchange filing. The Pokémon Company has petitioned the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court to halt the development and distribution of the game, known as Pocket Monster Reissue or Koudaiyaoguai Fuke. The company is seeking damages of 500 million yuan (approximately US$72.5 million) and public apologies from the companies involved. Notably, Zhongnan Heavy Industries reported in 2016 that the game had generated 300 million yuan (around $43.5 million) in revenue by that point. Despite the lawsuit, Pocket Monster Reissue remains accessible on various app stores in mainland China.