Overview of Nintendo’s Patent Actions Against Palworld
- Nintendo has achieved a significant milestone by obtaining an anti-Palworld creature-capture patent in the U. S.as of February 2025.
- The company is actively pursuing additional related patents within the United States.
- Recent information indicates that Nintendo may be looking to extend its patent conflict with Pocketpair to include the U. S.jurisdiction.
Nintendo’s latest patent acquisition emphasizes its stance against Palworld, signaling the potential for a broader legal engagement. This development raises intriguing questions about the international implications of its ongoing legal disputes.
In September 2024, The Pokémon Company and Nintendo collectively filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair, the creator of Palworld. The lawsuit, initiated in the Tokyo District Court, accuses Pocketpair of infringing on several aspects of Nintendo’s intellectual property. While the case has thus far remained within Japan, Nintendo’s recent patent filings in the U. S.could be indicative of its intention to elevate the dispute globally.
On February 11, 2025, the U. S.Patent and Trademark Office granted Nintendo a new patent (U. S.patent number 12, 220, 638) related to creature-capture gameplay mechanics. This latest patent mirrors a similar patent, numbered 12, 179, 111, which Nintendo secured late in 2024. These patents form the core of the ongoing litigation surrounding Palworld, as noted by a report from Games Fray.
Nintendo’s New Patent Aimed at the Mechanics of Palworld
The newly obtained patent differs significantly from Nintendo’s earlier patent filed on December 31. This earlier patent specified a creature-capture mechanism with two operational modes: a screen for aiming a capture device, akin to a Poké Ball, and a separate screen for engaging in capturing or battling actions. The later patent, however, employs distinct terminology, opting for “virtual character”instead of “field character.”Florian Mueller, a patent analyst at Games Fray, suggests that Pocketpair might argue that Palworld’s mechanics do not align with the dual-mode framework of the previous patent. This interpretation likely prompted Nintendo to adopt a broader strategy with more abstract patent language.
Mueller has previously characterized Nintendo’s legal maneuvers against Palworld as a blatant exercise of power. The firm’s efforts to secure patents previously contested in Japan while also addressing U. S.patent filings suggests a possible strategic shift towards a global legal confrontation. The direction Nintendo ultimately chooses will likely hinge on the decisions regarding its patent applications in the United States.
Expanding Legal Pursuits: Nintendo Looks for Additional Anti-Palworld Patents
Despite certain successes in acquiring patents related to its anti-Palworld efforts, not all of Nintendo’s applications have been fruitful. In early December 2024, the U. S.Patent and Trademark Office rejected a significant portion of one application (No.18/652, 883), dismissing 32 out of 33 claims. Only one claim remained, focusing on a system allowing for seamless switches of rideable virtual creatures. The USPTO indicated that this claim could be approved if presented independently.
In a proactive move, a Nintendo attorney sought an interview with a patent examiner in early February 2025 to contest this decision in detail and aim for approval of more claims. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how these legal and patent strategies will pan out for Nintendo and whether they will influence the wider gaming landscape.
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