Back in September of this year, news broke out about Nintendo / Pokemon Company would sue the creators of Palworld, PocketPair, for an alleged patent infringement from PocketPair's part.

The details about said lawsuit were scarce, other than the companies suing PocketPair, and it wasn't until today, November 8th, 2024, that PocketPair themselves released a short but detailed report about the current state of the lawsuit, and which specific patents from Nintendo and The Pokemon Company were the alleged infringed ones when it came to Palworld.

The alleged infringed patents from the Pokemon Company are the following:

• Patent No. 7545191
  [Patent application date: July 30, 2024]
  [Patent registration date: August 27, 2024]
  
  
• Patent No. 7493117
  [Patent application date: February 26, 2024]
  [Patent registration date: May 22, 2024]
  
  
• Patent No. 7528390
  [Patent application date: March 5, 2024]
  [Patent registration date: July 26, 2024]

To summarize them, basically it all boils down to aiming and sighting directions in a virtual space, and riding objects in ground and aerial spaces.
According to PocketPair, both Nintendo and the Pokemon Company are seeking 5 million yen as well as late payment damages to each company, meaning 5 million to Nintendo and another 5 million to Pokemon Co. (plus the late payment damages).

As a closing statement, PocketPair assured that they "will continue to assert their position in this case":

We will continue to assert our position in this case through future legal proceedings.

Please note that we will refrain from responding individually to inquiries regarding this case. If any matters arise that require public notice, we will announce them on our website, etc.

Source

 

[N10A]

Those are probably the worst software patents I've ever heard of. That first one is about 99.9% of all video games and the second is like at least 50%. Nintendo really is being pretty transparent about how spiteful their lawsuit is.

 

[limpbiz411]

Nintendo is so diabolical

 

[Thardus]

Oh Nintendo :-/

 

[Bladexdsl]

nintendo making up patents now to bully their competition. they are truly despicable worse than apple ever was!!
tell them to go fuck themselves pocketpair give them NOTHING!!

 

[lordrand11]

Lordt, the patents were issued after the game came out.

 

[DeadSkullzJr]

Can't say I know the full depths of what's going on exactly, minus the few things that I've come to understand up to this point. What confuses me about the use of these mechanics, is the fact that plenty of other franchises in the gaming realm have utilized such mechanics similarly if not entirely in the same ways. If my understanding is right, this really brings to question other franchises that have performed similar acts with their games, and if they will be in the legal radar as well. If this truly boils down to a petty legal battle brought up by Nintendo / Pokémon Company, then this has to be an instance where I do not agree with them.

I am open to knowing and understanding more though, adjusting my stance even.

 

[Plazorn]

Sort of like Ford filling a lawsuit against Chevrolet because they both make SUV vehicles! It is ridiculous and uncompetitive when you think about it.

 

[mousefitzgerald]

Those are probably the worst software patents I've ever heard of. That first one is about 99.9% of all video games and the second is like at least 50%. Nintendo really is being pretty transparent about how spiteful their lawsuit is.

Really hope the Japanese court civil justice system sees things exactly this way.

 

[ombus]

if i was pocketpair i present examples of 100 games with the same mechanics and ask why are they the ones being sued.. and why patent these things just this year ? how can they go after them when the their game came out first and not the patents...

 

[Kwyjor]

Those are probably the worst software patents I've ever heard of. That first one is about 99.9% of all video games and the second is like at least 50%. Nintendo really is being pretty transparent about how spiteful their lawsuit is.

The language of the claims (you're looking at the claims, right?) is so specific that it would be easy to make small changes and get around it.

ETA: I should post the Google Patent links from the other thread.

They are JP7528390B2, JP7493117B2, and JP7545191B1

Lordt, the patents were issued after the game came out.

It looks like they are claiming priority somehow to an earlier application from 2021, which is why the patents are expiring in 2041 and not 2024.

Can't say I know the full depths of what's going on exactly, minus the few things that I've come to understand up to this point.

Hey, don't let that stop you from speculating wildly!

 

[mousefitzgerald]

if i was pocketpair i present examples of 100 games with the same mechanics and ask why are they the ones being sued.. and why patent these things just this year ? how can they go after them when the their game came out first and not the patents...

If they have competent counsel these will likely be in their Motion to Dismiss.

 

[Noctosphere]

"To summarize them, basically it all boils down to aiming and sighting directions in a virtual space, and riding objects in ground and aerial spaces."
Then, Nintendo and TPC should be sued from all companies who made FPS games (grenades) or RPGs (riding horses)
This is in the top absurdity

 

[Xzi]

I knew these had to be total bullshit, all filed after the release of Palworld too. Nintendo didn't give a fuck until the game started selling well, so ridiculously petty.

 

[Thulinma]

Can't say I know the full depths of what's going on exactly, minus the few things that I've come to understand up to this point. What confuses me about the use of these mechanics, is the fact that plenty of other franchises in the gaming realm have utilized such mechanics similarly if not entirely in the same ways. If my understanding is right, this really brings to question other franchises that have performed similar acts with their games, and if they will be in the legal radar as well. If this truly boils down to a petty legal battle brought up by Nintendo / Pokémon Company, then this has to be an instance where I do not agree with them.

I am open to knowing and understanding more though, adjusting my stance even.

This video (by an actual lawyer) explains it pretty well, I think:
The summary is that most likely Nintendo sees Palworld as Sony's attack on their Pokemon franchise, and patent law is the best option available to them to strike back in response to that. It also explains why Nintendo almost never sues for patent infringement, even though they have thousands of patents that are almost continuously being infringed upon. For exact details, watch the video I guess

 

[SDA]

Nintendo is acting exactly like Team Rocket.

 

[Veho]

5 million yen is 30,000 dollars. 30,000 dolars is nothing. Just for comparison, Billy Mitchell is suing Karl Jobst for 450,000 dollars. Interdasting.

 

[DragonMals]

I'm just going to say: Patents are a stupid, fucking confusing concept that shouldn't exist at all.

 

[Xzi]

5 million yen is 30,000 dollars. 30,000 dolars is nothing. Just for comparison, Billy Mitchell is suing Karl Jobst for 450,000 dollars. Interdasting.

Coming from the company that never sues for less than a few million (USD), goes to show that even they don't think it's a strong case. At least two of these patents are insanely broad and are being "infringed" by a thousand games outside of the monster catching genre. Judge needs to toss 'em.

 

[jomaper]

What's worse is that 10m yen is like 70k lol