Nintendo and The Pokémon Company sued Palworld developer Pocketpair in Tokyo on September 18, 2024, alleging patent infringement. The companies sought an injunction and damages. Pocketpair later identified three Japanese patents and reported the amounts claimed, but those are the plaintiffs’ demands as described by Pocketpair—not a court award or a finding that Palworld infringes.
What is the lawsuit about?
The case is a Japanese patent-infringement lawsuit, not a copyright case. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed it at the Tokyo District Court on September 18, 2024, and Nintendo announced it the following day. In the joint announcement, the plaintiffs said: “This lawsuit seeks an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages on the grounds that Palworld, a game developed and released by the Defendant, infringes multiple patent rights.” That is the plaintiffs’ allegation, not a court’s conclusion.
Which patents and remedies are involved?
In a November 8, 2024 report, Pocketpair said the plaintiffs claimed Palworld infringed Japanese patents 7545191, 7493117, and 7528390. Pocketpair also reported that each plaintiff sought ¥5 million plus late-payment damages, and that the plaintiffs requested an injunction against Palworld. On that account, the claimed principal amounts total ¥10 million across the two plaintiffs; the figure is not a damages award.
An injunction is a request for the court to order conduct to stop or change. Its inclusion in the complaint does not mean the court granted one. The available company statements establish what the parties said was claimed, but do not establish a judicial finding on infringement or patent validity.
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#1 Best Overall
- 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
How did the case develop?
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| September 18, 2024 | Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed suit against Pocketpair at the Tokyo District Court, according to Nintendo’s announcement the next day. |
| September 19, 2024 | Nintendo publicly announced the patent-infringement claim and the requested injunction and damages. |
| Initial response | Pocketpair said it had received notice but did not yet know which specific patents were at issue. That statement came before the company’s later report naming three patents. |
| November 8, 2024 | Pocketpair identified patents 7545191, 7493117, and 7528390 and described the relief the plaintiffs sought. |
| July 8, 2026 | A legal overview described the Tokyo case as pending, with no judgment, settlement, or injunction issued by that date. It reported an October 1 technical briefing and November 9 preliminary court views as scheduled. |
What is known about the case now?
The latest dated procedural account established here is the July 8, 2026 overview. October 1, 2026 has passed, but no reliable update cited here establishes whether the reported technical briefing took place or what, if anything, followed. The November 9 date was reported as a scheduled event in July; it should not be treated as confirmation that the event will occur or as an account of its outcome.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are the U.S. patent developments part of this lawsuit?
No. A July 24, 2025 article from the European Commission’s IP Helpdesk discussed related U.S. patent grants and rejections, and said Nintendo had not filed a U.S. lawsuit as of that article’s date. Patent-office activity in the United States is distinct from the Japanese court case: it is not a ruling on the Tokyo claims. The same article reported that Pocketpair disputed infringement and patent validity.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- 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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