The developers of Palworld are in a legal dispute with Nintendo over the infringement of several patents. However, a mod for GTA V could change the situation.
What is this legal dispute about? Palworld was released in January 2024, and for a long time, it seemed that Nintendo and the Pokémon Company would refrain from taking legal action. Because from the release of Palworld, it was evident that the game draws inspiration from Pokémon and its mechanics.
For this reason, the studio behind Palworld, Pocket Pair, is now being sued. Specifically, it concerns several patent infringements. If Nintendo wins in court, Palworld could face serious difficulties. The game would either have to be significantly altered or completely taken off the market. In the meantime, Palworld remains very successful.
The lawsuit centers on three patents, one of which could reopen the case – thanks to GTA V.
Patents are a complicated matter
What does the patent cover? To understand the situation, one must know what exactly Nintendo’s patents mean. One of them deals with a central element of Palworld, namely the catching mechanic.
The patent covers the catching of monsters in an open area using a catching item (a Pokéball or Pal Sphere in Palworld).
Here’s where it gets interesting: The patent was only filed in 2024 – after the release of Palworld. How can Nintendo claim to be the original inventors of this mechanic?
To find an answer to this question, one has to look further back in time. Two years before Palworld, Pokémon Legends: Arceus was released, in which players also catch monsters in an open world with a ball. Nintendo might insist that this game introduced the mechanic.
Moreover, the 2024 patents are based on an older one from 2021. Thus, Nintendo could refer to this, stating that the patent was filed long before Palworld and would be secure. If it weren’t for… GTA V and a mod.
How can a GTA mod help? The Japanese lawyer Ryo Arashida specializes in patents and has stirred up a twist in the whole story with a statement to Nikkei Business.
He points out that there is a mod for GTA V from 2016 where players already threw balls at monsters in an open game world and captured them. Additionally, there are weapons in the game, similar to those in Palworld.
The lawyer does not name the mod, but it is likely the “Pokémon GO Mod” for GTA V. The mechanic used in it is very similar to the description in Nintendo’s patent. This could result in the patent losing its effect and Nintendo failing in court.
In the trial, it could indeed be determined that Nintendo did not invent the said mechanic, but that the GTA mod is considered a predecessor.
If this is actually recognized in court, Pocket Pair would be protected from this part of the lawsuit. However, there are still two other patents that will play a role in the trial. We wanted to know how high Nintendo’s chances are in court: Nintendo sues Palworld, what are the chances of success? – We spoke with lawyers
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