Pokemon Patent Lawsuit Against Palworld, No, Nintendo Hasn’t Lost—Here’s What’s Really Happening (2026)
Pokemon and Nintendo have NOT lost their patent lawsuit against Palworld. This is false information spreading online. The case remains in pre-trial proceedings at Tokyo District Court as of January 2026 with no trial date scheduled and no verdict issued. The lawsuit is ongoing and unresolved.
What’s actually happened: Japan’s Patent Office rejected one of Nintendo’s related patent applications in October 2025, but this doesn’t mean Nintendo lost the lawsuit. The case continues.
What the Pokemon v. Palworld Patent Lawsuit Actually Is
Nintendo Co., Ltd. and The Pokémon Company filed patent infringement claims against Pocketpair Inc., Palworld’s developer, on September 19, 2024, in Tokyo District Court. The lawsuit alleges Palworld infringes three Japanese patents covering creature-capture mechanics and character-riding systems.
The plaintiffs seek approximately 10 million yen (roughly $66,000) in damages plus an injunction that would block Palworld’s distribution in Japan. This is a patent case focused on gameplay mechanics, not a copyright or trademark dispute about character designs.
The three contested patents are:
- Patent No. 7545191: Creature capture mechanism with success rate indicators
- Patent No. 7493117: System for riding characters in virtual spaces
- Patent No. 7528390: Character switching mechanics while riding
These patents were filed after Palworld’s January 2024 release, raising questions about whether Nintendo retroactively patented mechanics already used in other games.
Why People Mistakenly Think Pokemon Lost the Lawsuit
The confusion stems from Japan’s Patent Office (JPO) rejecting Nintendo’s patent application No. 2024-031879 in late October 2025. This rejection fueled headlines claiming Nintendo suffered a “devastating blow” or “big loss” in its Palworld battle.
Here’s what actually happened: The JPO examiner found this patent application lacked originality, citing prior art from games including Monster Hunter 4 (2013), ARK: Survival Evolved (2015), Pocketpair’s own earlier game Craftopia, and even Pokémon GO. The examiner concluded the application didn’t meet invention standards under Japanese patent law.
However, this rejected application is not one of the three patents cited in the lawsuit. It’s part of the same patent family, which means it’s related but not identical to the patents Nintendo is actually suing over.
Think of it like this: if someone sues you over three specific claims and a different but related claim gets rejected elsewhere, that doesn’t mean you automatically lost the original lawsuit. The court will still evaluate the three specific patents named in the complaint.
Current Legal Status of the Nintendo Palworld Case
As of January 2026, the lawsuit remains in pre-trial proceedings with these key developments:
September 19, 2024: Nintendo and The Pokémon Company file the lawsuit in Tokyo District Court.
October 2025: Japan’s Patent Office rejects Nintendo’s related patent application 2024-031879 for lacking originality.
November 2025: Nintendo files amendments to one of the contested patents (JP7528390) mid-litigation, an unusual move that delayed proceedings.
January 2026: No trial date has been set. The case is expected to continue throughout 2026.
Presiding Judge Motoyuki Nakashima will ultimately decide whether Palworld infringes the three cited patents. While the JPO’s rejection of the related patent application may influence the judge’s thinking, it doesn’t bind his decision on the actual lawsuit patents.
Patent litigation expert Florian Mueller from Games Fray notes the rejected application was a “key building block” in Nintendo’s strategy. Its rejection potentially strengthens Pocketpair’s defense arguments about patent validity, but it doesn’t automatically resolve the case.
How Palworld Has Changed Because of the Lawsuit
While the case proceeds, Pocketpair has proactively modified Palworld’s gameplay to avoid potential infringement:
December 2024 (Patch 0.3.11): Changed how players summon Pals. Previously, players threw spheres to summon creatures (similar to Pokéballs). Now, Pals appear immediately beside players without throwing animations.
May 2025 (Patch 0.5.5): Modified the gliding mechanic. Players no longer hang onto Pals while gliding; instead, they use generic glider equipment.
These changes demonstrate Pocketpair’s awareness that the lawsuit poses real risks, even though no verdict has been reached. The developer stated these modifications were “disappointing” but necessary given the legal situation.
Similar to how the Strava Sues Garmin Lawsuit forced product changes during litigation, patent disputes often compel defendants to alter features before courts rule on infringement.
What Legal Experts Say About Nintendo’s Chances
Legal analysts remain divided on whether Nintendo will prevail:
Arguments favoring Nintendo:
- The Pokémon Company has successfully defended patents before
- Japanese courts sometimes defer to established patent holders
- Palworld’s mechanics bear undeniable similarities to Pokémon gameplay
Arguments favoring Pocketpair:
- The JPO’s rejection suggests Nintendo’s patents may lack sufficient originality
- Prior art from games like ARK and Monster Hunter predates Nintendo’s patent filing dates
- The patents were filed after Palworld’s release, raising retroactive enforcement concerns
- Nintendo is seeking only $66,000 in damages, suggesting even Nintendo doubts the strength of its claims
The modest damages request is particularly telling. If Nintendo truly believed it had an airtight case, it would likely seek substantially more compensation given Palworld’s massive commercial success (over 25 million players).
Why This Case Matters Beyond Pokemon and Palworld
The outcome will establish critical precedent for software patent enforcement in gaming:
If Nintendo wins: Game developers will face greater restrictions on implementing common gameplay mechanics. Patents on basic actions like “throwing objects to capture creatures” or “riding characters” could stifle innovation across the industry.
If Pocketpair wins: It could weaken broad software patents in gaming, making it harder for major publishers to prevent competitors from using similar mechanics. This might encourage more creative competition.
The case has already sparked public scrutiny of Nintendo’s patent practices. In November 2025, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) ordered re-examination of a separate broad Nintendo patent (U.S. Patent No. 12,403,397) covering character-summoning mechanics, potentially influenced by public outcry over the Palworld lawsuit.
Where to Find Accurate Case Information
Official Court Records
Tokyo District Court maintains the case docket, though documents are primarily in Japanese. The case number and filing details are public record.
Verified News Sources
Follow coverage from Bloomberg Law, Reuters, Games Fray (which provides detailed patent analysis), and major gaming publications like PC Gamer and Game Rant that cite court filings.
Company Statements
Monitor Pocketpair’s official Twitter/X account (@Palworld_EN) where the company posts litigation updates and statements about game changes.
Avoid sensationalized headlines claiming Nintendo “lost” or Palworld “won” without checking whether the case actually concluded. As of January 2026, no judgment or settlement exists.
What Happens Next in the Patent Litigation
The case will likely follow this timeline:
Early-Mid 2026: Continued pre-trial motions, discovery, and potential settlement negotiations.
Late 2026 or 2027: Trial at Tokyo District Court if parties don’t settle.
2027-2028: Potential appeals if either party contests the trial court’s decision.
Even if Nintendo prevails, enforcement may be limited. The lawsuit seeks an injunction blocking Palworld’s distribution only in Japan. The game would likely remain available in the United States, Europe, and other markets unless Nintendo files additional lawsuits in those jurisdictions.
Nintendo did file for related U.S. patents in February and March 2025, suggesting it may be laying groundwork for potential U.S. litigation if it succeeds in Japan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Pokemon lose the lawsuit against Palworld?
No. This is false information. As of January 2026, the lawsuit remains in pre-trial proceedings with no verdict. Japan’s Patent Office rejected a related Nintendo patent application, but this isn’t the same as losing the actual lawsuit.
What is the Pokemon v. Palworld lawsuit actually about?
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company sued Pocketpair for patent infringement on September 19, 2024, claiming Palworld violates three patents covering creature-capture mechanics and character-riding systems. The case seeks $66,000 in damages and an injunction.
When will the Pokemon Palworld case be decided?
No trial date has been set as of January 2026. Legal experts expect the case to continue throughout 2026, with a verdict potentially not arriving until 2027 or later.
Why did Japan’s Patent Office reject Nintendo’s patent?
The JPO found patent application No. 2024-031879 lacked originality, citing prior art from Monster Hunter 4, ARK: Survival Evolved, Craftopia, and Pokémon GO. However, this rejected patent isn’t one of the three patents cited in the lawsuit.
Has Palworld been removed from stores?
No. Palworld remains available worldwide on Steam, Xbox, and other platforms as of January 2026. Even if Nintendo wins, the injunction would initially apply only to Japan.
How much is Nintendo seeking in the lawsuit?
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are seeking approximately 10 million yen (roughly $66,000) in damages plus legal fees and an injunction blocking Palworld’s distribution in Japan.
What happens if Nintendo wins the case?
Pocketpair would owe approximately $66,000 plus legal costs, be forced to modify or remove infringing gameplay mechanics, and potentially face an injunction blocking Palworld’s distribution in Japan. Nintendo might also file similar lawsuits in other countries.
Last Updated: January 26, 2026
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about the Pokemon v. Palworld patent litigation and is not legal advice. Individuals should consult qualified attorneys specializing in patent law or intellectual property litigation for case-specific guidance.
Don’t fall for false legal news—verify court outcomes before believing viral claims about major lawsuits. — AllAboutLawyer.com
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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