Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Palworld developer Pocketpair in Tokyo on September 18, 2024, Nintendo announced the next day. The plaintiffs seek an injunction and damages; the filing is an allegation, not a court finding that Pocketpair infringed a patent.
What the lawsuit alleges
Nintendo said the companies filed suit in the Tokyo District Court over Palworld, alleging that the game infringes multiple patent rights. Nintendo’s announcement says the plaintiffs seek an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages. Those are the plaintiffs’ claims and requested remedies, not a ruling on liability. Nintendo’s September 19, 2024 announcement describes the case as a patent-infringement lawsuit; it does not announce a copyright judgment.
Which patents are involved?
Pocketpair initially said it had received notice of the lawsuit but did not know which specific patents were at issue. In a November 8, 2024 update, Pocketpair reported that the plaintiffs had identified three Japanese patents:
| Japanese patent number | Application date | Registration date |
|---|---|---|
| 7,545,191 | July 30, 2024 | August 27, 2024 |
| 7,493,117 | February 26, 2024 | May 22, 2024 |
| 7,528,390 | March 5, 2024 | July 26, 2024 |
The patent numbers and dates above are from Pocketpair’s November 8, 2024 statement. They identify patents Pocketpair said the plaintiffs asserted; they do not establish what a court will decide about the patents’ scope, validity, or infringement.
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How much money are the plaintiffs seeking?
Pocketpair reported that the plaintiffs sought an injunction against Palworld and damages of 5 million yen plus late-payment damages payable to The Pokémon Company, and a further 5 million yen plus late-payment damages payable to Nintendo. Those are requested amounts as reported by Pocketpair, not damages awarded by a court. The two base amounts add up to 10 million yen, before any late-payment damages.
What did Pocketpair say?
In its September 19, 2024 response, Pocketpair said it would begin appropriate legal proceedings and investigate the allegations. At that point, it said it had not been notified of the specific patents involved. Pocketpair also said it intended to keep improving Palworld and continue making games. The statement records Pocketpair’s position at that time; the company later identified the three patents it said the plaintiffs asserted. Read Pocketpair’s September 19, 2024 statement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Has Nintendo won the Palworld lawsuit?
The available statements from Nintendo and Pocketpair do not report a merits judgment, a damages award, or a final resolution. A June 2026 Windows Central report described the case as pending and reported an October 1, 2026 hearing and a November 9, 2026 preliminary disclosure of the court’s views. As of October 8, 2026, the outcome of the October 1 hearing could not be verified in the available sources, so it is not possible to say from this record that the court has ruled or that the case has ended. The reported November milestone is a future event as of that date, not a decision already issued.
Predictions about which side is likely to prevail or how much it might recover are not court findings. The official party statements cited here do not establish that the current game is immune from the case, that either plaintiff has lost, or that a precise recovery limit has been set by judgment.
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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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