Nintendo and The Pokémon Company sued Palworld developer Pocketpair in Japan over alleged patent infringement. Pocketpair initially said it would investigate and respond through legal proceedings; it later identified the patents in dispute, denied infringement, and described gameplay changes made as precautions while the case proceeds. No court finding or resolution is established by the official updates summarized here.
What Nintendo and The Pokémon Company alleged
Nintendo announced on September 19, 2024, that it and The Pokémon Company had filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Pocketpair in the Tokyo District Court the day before. The plaintiffs sought an injunction and damages, alleging that Palworld infringed multiple patent rights. Nintendo’s announcement described a patent case; it did not announce a copyright claim. Nintendo’s announcement
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Pocketpair’s initial response
On September 19, 2024, Pocketpair said it had received notice of the lawsuit and would begin legal proceedings and investigate the patent-infringement claims. It said it did not then know which specific patents were alleged to have been infringed and had not been notified of those details. The studio also said it would continue improving Palworld and hoped the dispute would not discourage independent developers from pursuing creative ideas. Pocketpair’s September 2024 statement
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Which patents and remedies Pocketpair later identified
In an update on November 8, 2024, Pocketpair said the plaintiffs claimed Palworld infringed three patents: Nos. 7545191, 7493117, and 7528390. Pocketpair reported that the plaintiffs sought an injunction against the game and payments of 5 million yen to each plaintiff, plus late-payment damages.
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| Claim reported by Pocketpair | What it means |
|---|---|
| Patent Nos. 7545191, 7493117, and 7528390 | The three patents the plaintiffs asserted, according to Pocketpair’s November 8, 2024 update. |
| 5 million yen to The Pokémon Company | Amount Pocketpair said the plaintiffs requested, plus late-payment damages. |
| 5 million yen to Nintendo | Amount Pocketpair said the plaintiffs requested, plus late-payment damages. |
| An injunction against Palworld | Relief the plaintiffs sought, according to Pocketpair; it was not a court order. |
These figures describe the relief sought in the plaintiffs’ claim as Pocketpair reported it, not damages awarded by a court. Pocketpair’s November 2024 update
Pocketpair’s position on infringement and patent validity
In its May 8, 2025 update, Pocketpair said it believed Palworld did not infringe any of the patents asserted by the plaintiffs. It also said it was arguing that the patents were invalid. Those are Pocketpair’s positions in the litigation—not findings by a court. The case-related statement confirmed that Pocketpair was continuing to respond to the pending lawsuit. Pocketpair’s May 2025 update
Gameplay changes Pocketpair linked to the lawsuit
Pocketpair described changes to summoning and gliding as precautionary steps intended to make it clearer that Palworld did not infringe patents and to let the studio keep developing and distributing the game during the litigation.
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Patch v0.3.11, released November 30, 2024, removed the mechanic in which a player summoned a Pal by throwing a Pal Sphere. The Pal instead appeared directly near the player.
Planned gliding change in version 0.5.5
Pocketpair’s May 2025 update described a planned change requiring players to equip a glider item to glide. Glider Pals would affect the item’s additional effects. The update connected this change to the lawsuit; it did not establish that a court required either gameplay change.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is—and is not—established about the case
The official statements establish the filing, the plaintiffs’ allegations and requested remedies as Pocketpair reported them, Pocketpair’s denial and invalidity position, and the studio’s account of related gameplay changes. They do not establish that a court found infringement, that the patents were invalid, or that the dispute has been resolved. The latest official case-related update identified here is Pocketpair’s May 8, 2025 statement; the later status is not confirmed by these sources.
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