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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesNo, Nintendo has not lost its lawsuit against Palworld. A U.S. patent examiner reportedly rejected all 26 claims of a related Nintendo patent in a non-final Office Action in March 2026. That is a meaningful setback in U.S. patent examination, but it did not invalidate the Japanese patents in the separate Tokyo lawsuit. The latest dated status report, published September 18, 2026, said the Japanese case remained unresolved.
What happened in Nintendo’s Palworld lawsuit?
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a patent-infringement lawsuit against Palworld developer Pocketpair in the Tokyo District Court on September 18, 2024. In its announcement, Nintendo said the companies sought an injunction and damages, alleging that Palworld infringed multiple patent rights. This is a patent case about alleged game-mechanic infringement, not a copyright lawsuit over creature designs.
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Pocketpair’s November 8, 2024 statement identified the Japanese patents at issue as Patent Nos. 7545191, 7493117, and 7528390. It said the plaintiffs sought an injunction against Palworld and 5 million yen plus late-payment damages for The Pokémon Company, and another 5 million yen plus late-payment damages for Nintendo. Those were amounts claimed in the case, not damages awarded by a court.
What was the reported “fatal blow”?
Yogonet International reported on September 18, 2026, that a U.S. patent examiner had issued a non-final Office Action in March 2026 rejecting all 26 claims of a Nintendo U.S. summoning patent as obvious in light of earlier patents, including two Nintendo patents. The report describes a challenge during U.S. patent examination—not a judgment in the Tokyo lawsuit.
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- Taking advantage of current generation hardware, this 3D action-adventure platformer is packed with smoother intuitive gameplay, updated visuals including a shiny new look for PAC-MAN and the Ghosts, an improved UI, fine-tuned environmental details
- Adventure through the main campaign in QUEST MODE, play a collection of 3D mazes in MAZE MODE, & clear QUEST MODE to unlock the original PAC-MAN game in ORIGINAL MODE
- Dodge Ghosts & other baddies, solve environmental puzzles, & collect items through the six areas of Ghost Island: Pirate Area, Ruins Area, Space Area, Funhouse Area, Factory Area, & Mansion Area - each featuring multiple levels & a unique boss battle
- More than running & chomping - PAC-MAN will butt-bounce, rev-roll, hover jump, & more through the six areas while collecting PAC-DOTS, fruit, and power ups - Become invincible & walk underwater with the Metal PAC-MAN power-up and become MEGA PAC-MAN
- Find keys hidden in each world to rescue PAC-MOM, PAC-BOY, PAC-SIS, Professor PAC PAC-BUDDY, and Pooka - With each rescue PAC-MAN gains an advantage for the final battle against the dreaded TOC-MAN
A non-final Office Action gives the examiner’s position during the patent examination process. USPTO guidance on Office Actions explains their role in that process; a non-final rejection is not, by itself, a final invalidation. The applicant may respond, amend claims, or argue against the examiner’s position. The reported rejection is therefore consequential, but calling it a fatal blow to the lawsuit overstates what it establishes.
How the U.S. patent action differs from the Tokyo case
| Development | Jurisdiction and stage | What it establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Patents identified by Pocketpair: Japanese Patent Nos. 7545191, 7493117, and 7528390 | Japan; patent-infringement lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court | The patents Pocketpair said were asserted in the case. The lawsuit concerns alleged infringement and requested remedies. |
| Reported rejection of all 26 claims of a Nintendo summoning patent | United States; non-final patent-examination Office Action reported in March 2026 | An examiner reportedly found the claims obvious at this stage of examination. It is not a final invalidation and does not itself decide the Japanese lawsuit. |
The two developments concern different proceedings, patent scopes, and jurisdictions. The available accounts do not establish that the U.S. examination controls the Tokyo court’s decision.
Rank #2
- New stages and fighters are joined by the combined rosters of every past Super Smash Bros. Game
- Challenge others anytime, anywhere, whether you're on the couch or on the go
- Play any way you want—locally, online, in TV mode, Tabletop mode, Handheld mode, or even with GameCube Controllers
- Fight faster and smarter with new and returning techniques, like the perfect shield and directional air dodge
- Face off in 2-4 player battles, or play against the computer
What is the status of the Japanese lawsuit?
Yogonet’s September 18, 2026 account said the plaintiffs narrowed their claims in November 2025 to older, pre-patch versions of Palworld, and that no injunction had been granted as of the report. It said a Tokyo court view was expected in November 2026, but no official court notice confirming that schedule was identified in the sources reviewed. The case should therefore be described as pending on the basis of that latest dated account, not as resolved.
What changes did Pocketpair make to Palworld?
A June 18, 2026 LegalClarity explainer reported that Pocketpair changed summoning and gliding mechanics through updates. It described changes to summoning and a shift from using certain Pals as gliders to requiring a glider item, with those Pals instead providing buffs. The report does not establish that a court ordered the changes or found that the original mechanics infringed a patent.
Rank #3
- Minecraft is a game about placing blocks and going on adventures
- Explore randomly generated worlds and build amazing things from the simplest of homes to the grandest of castles
- Play in creative mode with unlimited resources or mine deep into the world in survival mode, crafting weapons and armor to fend off the dangerous mobs
- Play on the go in handheld or tabletop modes
- Includes Super Mario Mash-Up, Natural Texture Pack, Biome Settlers Skin Pack, Battle & Beasts Skin Pack, Campfire Tales Skin Pack; Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
What did Pocketpair say?
In its November 8, 2024 statement, Pocketpair said: “We will continue to assert our position in this case through future legal proceedings.”
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- A variety of playable characters are available, some with unique attributes that affect gameplay and platforming physics.
- Younger and less-experienced players will love playing as Toadette, who is brand new to both games, and Nabbit, who was formerly only playable in New Super Luigi U. Both characters offer extra assistance during play.
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- Features a wealth of help features, like a Hints gallery, reference videos, and a Super Guide in New Super Mario Bros. U that can complete levels for you if they’re giving you trouble.
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