Nintendo and The Pokémon Company sued Palworld developer Pocketpair in Tokyo District Court on September 18, 2024, alleging that the game infringes multiple patents. They sought an injunction and damages. Pocketpair later named three Japanese patents and said each plaintiff sought ¥5 million plus late-payment damages. Those are the plaintiffs’ allegations and the defendant’s account of the requested relief—not a court finding or an award.
What the lawsuit is about
The case is a Japanese patent-infringement lawsuit brought by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company against Pocketpair, the developer and publisher of Palworld. Nintendo announced the filing on September 19, 2024, saying the complaint had been filed the previous day in Tokyo District Court. Its statement said the plaintiffs sought an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages because, in their view, Palworld infringed multiple patent rights.
Nintendo’s announcement did not identify the patent numbers or establish that infringement occurred. The case concerns patent rights; it should not be described as a copyright or character-design lawsuit based on the information publicly attributed here.
Which patents Pocketpair identified
In a November 8, 2024 statement, Pocketpair identified three Japanese patents and reported their application and registration dates. These particulars come from Pocketpair, the defendant, rather than Nintendo’s initial announcement.
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- Officially licensed Palworld merch. Join the hunt and capture all the creatures in this open world survival video game. Weaponize your creatures or put them to work in this unique collecting game.
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| Japanese patent | Application date reported by Pocketpair | Registration date reported by Pocketpair |
|---|---|---|
| 7545191 | July 30, 2024 | August 27, 2024 |
| 7493117 | February 26, 2024 | May 22, 2024 |
| 7528390 | March 5, 2024 | July 26, 2024 |
Pocketpair also said Palworld was released on January 19, 2024. These dates describe the chronology Pocketpair reported; they do not, by themselves, determine whether a patent is valid or whether a particular game version infringed it.
How much the plaintiffs reportedly seek
Pocketpair said the requested damages were ¥5 million for The Pokémon Company and ¥5 million for Nintendo, with late-payment damages for each plaintiff. That is Pocketpair’s description of the 2024 demand. It is not a damages award, and it should not be treated as a final limit on what the plaintiffs may claim.
What changed in Palworld—and what that does not establish
June 2026 reporting described changes to Palworld’s summoning and gliding mechanics and said the plaintiffs had narrowed their claims to older versions of the game. This is a reported development in the scope of the dispute, not a judicial ruling that an earlier version infringed or that newer versions have been legally cleared.
A change to a current game build cannot, by itself, resolve questions about earlier builds, patent validity, infringement, or the remedy a court might grant. Those issues remain distinct from the fact that mechanics were reportedly changed.
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A specialist case analysis published before the relevant dates said the case remained pending through July 8, 2026. It listed a technical and evidence presentation for October 1, 2026, and preliminary views from the court for November 9, 2026. October 1 has passed, but the available information does not confirm whether that event occurred or whether the schedule changed. The November 9 date should therefore be understood only as a previously reported schedule, not as a confirmed upcoming event or outcome.
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- Officially licensed Palworld merch. Join the hunt and capture all the creatures in this open world survival video game. Weaponize your creatures or put them to work in this unique collecting game.
- Perfect graphic apparel for fans of Video Games, Creature Collecting, Open World Games, Cute Animals, Funny Games, and Pocketpair.
- Lightweight, Classic fit, Double-needle sleeve and bottom hem
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