Back in September, 2024, news broke out about Nintendo suing Palworld creators, PocketPair, in Japan over many of the mechanics that Palworld uses, sharing similarities with the Pokemon franchise, in what later was confirmed to be a patent infringing lawsuit, according to Nintendo and Game Freak's claims.

While PocketPair did release a response about the whole situation later on, little has been known since then about the lawsuit between the two companies in Japanese grounds. However, this week more information was known about Nintendo's moves in the American continent, as they sought to claim 23 patents in the territory.

GamesFray, a website focused on analyzing and reporting over the litigation aspects of the gaming scene, has been following the case closely, going through Nintendo's legal trail in both continents, analyzing the case and reporting over each new step taken in the legal battle. GamesFray disclosed back in February 8th that Nintendo submitted 23 patent claims to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

However, out of those 23 patents submitted by Nintendo, the USPTO rejected 22 out of those 23 patent claims due to those 22 patents not being considered inventive over prior existing art, leaving only one patent to Nintendo, with the USPTO willing to grant that one patent only if Nintendo drops the other 22 patent claims (since that specific patent was dependant on a rejected one).

All of this is the result of the on-going Palworld lawsuit, of course, and Nintendo's modus operandi in this situation is to try to expand the patent gripe to other territories in hopes of gathering more patents overseas, and then, once Nintendo manages to claim enough patents over their "ideas" and "mechanics" (since it has yet to be confirmed if Palworld has indeed infringed on them or not), then they can apply the same legal action against PocketPair in other countries of operation.

Of course, this being Nintendo, they will try to fight the rejected patents and will continue to pursue and flex their legal front to garner more and more patents filled in their favour, but that remains yet to be seen. Additionally, the legal battle in Japan over the patent lawsuit is still unknown, and with how Japan's laws over copyright and patents, in which the terms Fair Use and Prior Art might as well not exist, it's difficult to know if the outcome might be favourable for PocketPair or not.

Source #1
Source #2

 

[Bladexdsl]

Some day maybe Nintendo will be bankrupt and everyone everywhere all over the Internet is going to have a delightful time explaining all the things they did wrong and totally had it coming all along from the very beginning and never did anything right ever.

But they've lasted this long, and I don't think that day is coming soon.

enter the nintensheep to defend it's master. do you realize how pathetic you sound defending these pricks when they are clearly in the wrong and have been 100% caught red handed?!

 

[RedBlueGreen]

No, they did not apply for 23 patents. They applied for several patents, some of which have been granted, and one patent examiner working for the Patent Office rejected 22 claims in one patent application, a thing that is entirely normal in the patent application process and probably actually happened over the course of those other patents getting granted.

Some day maybe Nintendo will be bankrupt and everyone everywhere all over the Internet is going to have a delightful time explaining all the things they did wrong and totally had it coming all along from the very beginning and never did anything right ever.

But they've lasted this long, and I don't think that day is coming soon.

What exactly are you referring to?

SEGA had a patent for player controlled cameras that switch perspectives. Nintendo knowingly infringed on this multiple times.

https://www.timeextension.com/featu...do-defeat-one-of-segas-most-ludicrous-patents

Also you can find similar information in some of the Did You Know Gaming videos.

 

[chrisrlink]

I'm getting to Mortov cocktails ready

Post automatically merged: Feb 18, 2025

if the tarrifs are any poetic justice now's the time

 

[FluffyLunamoth]

And the nintenhaters are even stupider sounding...can't have a decent debate because y'all as braindead in your hatred as a certain 4-lettered acronym of people ruining the US.

 

[Kwyjor]

SEGA had a patent for player controlled cameras that switch perspectives. Nintendo knowingly infringed on this multiple times.

https://www.timeextension.com/featu...do-defeat-one-of-segas-most-ludicrous-patents

I see. Sega went after Nintendo, and then Sony and Nintendo together challenged the patent. Apparently.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtua_Racing#Patent_dispute

Also you can find similar information in some of the Did You Know Gaming videos.

This thread is a fine lesson on how easily facts can be casually distorted to fit any particular narrative.

 

[RedBlueGreen]

I see. Sega went after Nintendo, and then Sony and Nintendo together challenged the patent. Apparently.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtua_Racing#Patent_dispute

This thread is a fine lesson on how easily facts can be casually distorted to fit any particular narrative.

Except they cite sources and translate interviews, and you've literally shared a link to a patent dispute.

 

[Kwyjor]

you've literally shared a link to a patent dispute.

No, I shared a link to a Wikipedia article with a blurb about the patent dispute, because unfortunately I also lack the time and energy to track down primary sources to make a point in a thread where no one is likely to care about such things.

 

[RedBlueGreen]

No, I shared a link to a Wikipedia article with a blurb about the patent dispute, because unfortunately I also lack the time and energy to track down primary sources to make a point in a thread where no one is likely to care about such things.

Which cites 2 sources. You're effectively sharing information on the dispute. You can be as pedantic as you want, but that doesn't change that you've linked to information on the dispute.

 

[The Catboy]

And the nintenhaters are even stupider sounding...can't have a decent debate because y'all as braindead in your hatred as a certain 4-lettered acronym of people ruining the US.

What you on about?

 

[ChronosNotashi]

SEGA had a patent for player controlled cameras that switch perspectives. Nintendo knowingly infringed on this multiple times.

https://www.timeextension.com/featu...do-defeat-one-of-segas-most-ludicrous-patents

Also you can find similar information in some of the Did You Know Gaming videos.

To be fair, SEGA's not exactly the best at protecting their intellectual property, especially if it relates in any way to the Sonic franchise. They did lose a bunch of characters from the Archie comics to one guy, after all, and are likely in a situation where any attempt to protect the Sonic IP or anything related will backfire horribly on them.

Atlus is much more likely to be protective of their stuff, in comparison.

What you on about?

They're comparing you to a certain sub-party that we are not allowed to discuss outside of certain forum sections. I'd honestly be careful engaging further with the initial post.

 

[VGBC_P3rs0na]

This is a great day, I'm glad the US court is destroying Nintendo's bullshit lies. Palworld did nothing wrong.

Yeah! FUCK YOU, NINTENDO! FUCK! YOOOOUUUUUU! BLAHAHAHA!

 

[Space_Goddess_Samus_Aran]

"Nintendo used DMCA....it wasnt very effective"

 

[ConkersBFDfan]

i agree with nintendo sorry guys

 

[deSSy2724]

Now, they should sue them. Also, we should raise a fund to patent things, etc., and provide it for free, or at least until we recover the money and break even. Or we could collaborate with a gaming studio to make it...

Dont forget to sing the EU petition for game preservation.

 

[ChronosNotashi]

Dont forget to sing the EU petition for game preservation.

When has singing ever led to any actual changes in government policies? I don't recall any one period where a group of people singing "Kumbaya" or any other song resulted in government leaders changing their minds about something.

 

[bowlerhat]

And the nintenhaters are even stupider sounding...can't have a decent debate because y'all as braindead in your hatred as a certain 4-lettered acronym of people ruining the US.

Yeah! FUCK YOU, NINTENDO! FUCK! YOOOOUUUUUU! BLAHAHAHA!

The duality of man

 

[altorn]

Nintendo/Gamefreak could REAAALLLYYYY use that 1 game mechanic patent to make Pokemon Z-A better.... lol

 

[DaeLyte]

Nintendo has been known for its robust business strategies, sometimes perceived as aggressive and unyielding in maintaining control over its franchises. It would be refreshing if they could open up more, perhaps by introducing Pokémon on other platforms or reducing barriers that hinder the longevity of video games.

. **Increased Cross-Platform Play**: Allowing Pokémon, or other popular games like Super Mario Bros., to be playable on platforms beyond Nintendo consoles could significantly expand the player base and appeal of these franchises. This could involve cloud gaming services or even downloadable content that allows for cross-platform interaction between different systems.

2. **Partnerships with Indie Developers**: Collaborating with indie game developers could introduce new, innovative gameplay experiences that might not have otherwise been explored by Nintendo's internal teams. This would also support the growth of the video gaming community and promote diversity in game design.

3. **Open-Source Game Engines**: Adopting open-source game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine could allow more developers to create games for Nintendo platforms, potentially leading to a wider variety of genres and styles within the Nintendo ecosystem. This approach would also make it easier for smaller teams and indie developers to get their work on Nintendo systems without requiring extensive resources.

4. **Transparent Communication**: Enhancing transparency with fans could involve more frequent updates about upcoming games, development processes, and company decisions. Clear communication can help build trust and demonstrate that the company values its community's feedback and interests.

5. **Fandom Engagement**: Nintendo could foster stronger relationships with its fan base by actively engaging with them on social media, forums, and other platforms where fans gather. This could include sharing development insights, participating in Q&A sessions, or even soliciting ideas for new games through community contests.

6. **Support for Indie Communities**: Providing more support to indie communities within the gaming industry can help nurture talent and create a positive cycle of innovation and inspiration. This might involve hosting game jams on Nintendo platforms, providing resources for indie developers, or offering opportunities for exposure to new audiences.

Post automatically merged: Mar 9, 2025

Nintendo has been known for its robust business strategies, sometimes perceived as aggressive and unyielding in maintaining control over its franchises. It would be refreshing if they could open up more, perhaps by introducing Pokémon on other platforms or reducing barriers that hinder the longevity of video games.

. **Increased Cross-Platform Play**: Allowing Pokémon, or other popular games like Super Mario Bros., to be playable on platforms beyond Nintendo consoles could significantly expand the player base and appeal of these franchises. This could involve cloud gaming services or even downloadable content that allows for cross-platform interaction between different systems.

2. **Partnerships with Indie Developers**: Collaborating with indie game developers could introduce new, innovative gameplay experiences that might not have otherwise been explored by Nintendo's internal teams. This would also support the growth of the video gaming community and promote diversity in game design.

3. **Open-Source Game Engines**: Adopting open-source game engines like Unity or Unreal Engine could allow more developers to create games for Nintendo platforms, potentially leading to a wider variety of genres and styles within the Nintendo ecosystem. This approach would also make it easier for smaller teams and indie developers to get their work on Nintendo systems without requiring extensive resources.

4. **Transparent Communication**: Enhancing transparency with fans could involve more frequent updates about upcoming games, development processes, and company decisions. Clear communication can help build trust and demonstrate that the company values its community's feedback and interests.

5. **Fandom Engagement**: Nintendo could foster stronger relationships with its fan base by actively engaging with them on social media, forums, and other platforms where fans gather. This could include sharing development insights, participating in Q&A sessions, or even soliciting ideas for new games through community contests.

6. **Support for Indie Communities**: Providing more support to indie communities within the gaming industry can help nurture talent and create a positive cycle of innovation and inspiration. This might involve hosting game jams on Nintendo platforms, providing resources for indie developers, or offering opportunities for exposure to new audiences.