The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Nintendo and The Pokémon Company sued Palworld developer Pocketpair in Tokyo, alleging that the game infringes multiple Japanese patents and asking for an injunction and damages. That is an allegation, not a court finding: the latest dated status available here says the case was still pending, with no judgment, settlement, or injunction issued as of July 8, 2026.
What Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are asking the court to do
The companies filed suit against Pocketpair in Tokyo District Court on September 18, 2024; Nintendo announced the filing the next day. Nintendo’s September 19 announcement said the lawsuit sought “an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages” on the grounds that Palworld infringed multiple patent rights. This describes the plaintiffs’ position, not a finding that infringement occurred.
In a November 8, 2024 statement, Pocketpair said the plaintiffs sought ¥5 million from each plaintiff, plus late-payment damages: ¥10 million total, plus late-payment damages. That is the amount Pocketpair reported as being sought, not money awarded by a court.
Which patents Pocketpair identified
Pocketpair’s November 8, 2024 statement named three Japanese patents. Their registration dates came after Palworld’s January 19, 2024 Early Access release. Patent attorney Kentan Sugiura explains that the patents arose from divisional applications claiming an earlier filing date from a parent application, so the later registrations alone do not establish when the relevant patent rights originated or decide whether they are valid.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →#1 Best Overall
![Bushiroad Palworld Trading Card Game Dawn of Palpagos Red & Blue Trial Deck POCGe-TD01 [50 Cards]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51qbpctfE0L._SL160_.jpg)
- Official Palworld Trading Card Game: Strategic gameplay designed for two players featuring mysterious creatures known as Pals
- Complete Trial Deck Set: Includes 50 cards in the Dawn of Palpagos Red & Blue Trial Deck, designed for immediate play right out of the box
- Flexible Deck Construction: Build decks using up to 2 colors from Red, Blue, Green, and Purple, plus versatile Colorless cards that work with any deck combination
- Customizable Strategy Options: Cards are customizable with a maximum of four copies per card, encouraging personalized strategies and unique gameplay experiences
- Comprehensive Game Components: Includes 60-card set with 50 main deck pieces and 10 soul cards, plus play guide, paper playmat, life counter, and bonus booster pack
| Japanese patent | Application date reported by Pocketpair | Registration date reported by Pocketpair |
|---|---|---|
| 7545191 | July 30, 2024 | August 27, 2024 |
| 7493117 | February 26, 2024 | May 22, 2024 |
| 7528390 | March 5, 2024 | July 26, 2024 |
What the patent dispute is about
Sugiura’s July 14, 2026 explainer gives functional summaries of the asserted patents: selective throwing for capture and summoning, an indicator related to capture probability, and switching between riding or mount states. These summaries help orient readers, but they are not a substitute for the patents’ actual claims. In particular, describing the case as a dispute over a single broad “Poké Ball patent” oversimplifies it: the asserted rights concern multiple patents and different functions, while infringement turns on the specific claim language and how it applies to the game.
The lawsuit asks whether Palworld’s features fall within the scope of the asserted patent claims. Similarity to a familiar game mechanic, by itself, does not answer that legal question. Pocketpair’s statement said it would continue to assert its position in the proceedings; Sugiura later characterized the developer’s position as denying infringement and asserting invalidity.
Rank #2
- 7 per pack
- Each box contains 12 cards
- (C) PALWORLD
How Palworld’s changes and older versions fit in
Sugiura’s chronology reports a change to summoning mechanics in a November 30, 2024 update and a further specification change affecting gliding on May 8, 2025. The explainer describes the changes as precautionary or design-around steps, not an admission that an earlier version infringed.
Media reporting summarized in Sugiura’s 2026 explainer says the plaintiffs later limited their claims to an older version of the game, before the reported changes. The old-version infringement question remains disputed. A change to the game, or a reported narrowing of the case to earlier versions, does not establish that either the older or current version infringed.
What the patent-office proceedings do—and do not—show
Related applications in the patent family have faced examination setbacks in Japan. Sugiura reports that on October 17, 2025, the Japan Patent Office issued a notice of reasons for refusal for related divisional application 2024-031879, citing lack of inventive step. PC Gamer’s October 31, 2025 report described that refusal as non-final and discussed prior art.
Those proceedings concern related applications, not a decision in the Tokyo lawsuit. A refusal of a related application does not itself decide infringement or automatically invalidate the three granted patents named by Pocketpair. The court case and patent-office examination are separate processes.
Rank #4
- Build your PALWORLD collection instantly with the Collectors Set by The Loyal Subjects.
- PALWORLD: The global phenomenon, multiplayer open world survival and crafting video game where players collect mysterious creatures called ‘Pals,’ is taking the action off screen with these all new and first ever Figures!
- SET INCLUDES: Chillet, Grizzbolt, and Relaxasaurus — for an all-in-one collectible showcase.
- FIGURES: Three 3-inch scale figures designed for posing and display.
- PACKAGED: In a premium display-ready window box.
Where the case stood on October 8, 2026
The latest dated account establishing the litigation’s status is Sugiura’s July 14, 2026 explainer, which says the case remained pending in Tokyo District Court as of July 8, with no judgment, settlement, or injunction issued by then. The same explainer listed a technical briefing for October 1, 2026, but does not establish what happened at that briefing. It listed preliminary findings disclosure for November 9, 2026, a date still in the future on October 8, 2026. Neither scheduled milestone should be treated as a ruling that has already occurred.
Could the lawsuit stop Palworld from being sold?
The plaintiffs requested an injunction, which could restrict the game if a court granted relief. But the request is not itself an order: the latest confirmed status above reports no injunction as of July 8, 2026. The available dated information does not establish that Palworld has been banned or that its sale has been stopped.
Japan and the United States are separate tracks
Sugiura’s July 2026 account described the dispute as limited to Japan and said no U.S. lawsuit had been filed as of that account. Related U.S. patent examination or prosecution activity is not the same thing as litigation in a U.S. court, and it does not determine the outcome of the Japanese case.
Quick Recap
Key dates
- January 19, 2024: Pocketpair releases Palworld in Early Access.
- September 18–19, 2024: Nintendo and The Pokémon Company file the Tokyo case; Nintendo announces it the following day.
- November 8, 2024: Pocketpair identifies the three patents and reports the requested remedies.
- November 30, 2024, and May 8, 2025: Sugiura’s chronology records changes to summoning and gliding specifications, respectively.
- October 17, 2025: The JPO issues a notice of reasons for refusal for related divisional application 2024-031879.
- July 8, 2026: The case is reported as pending, with no judgment, settlement, or injunction issued by that date.
- October 1, 2026: A technical briefing was listed as scheduled; its outcome is not established in the cited account.
- November 9, 2026: Preliminary findings disclosure was listed as scheduled, after the October 8, 2026 date of this article.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
