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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Nintendo and The Pokémon Company sued Palworld developer Pocketpair in Tokyo, alleging patent infringement. The suit is an allegation, not a court finding. Pocketpair has disputed the claims and says it asserts that the patents are invalid. As of October 8, 2026, the outcome of a reported October 1 court event could not be confirmed.
What is the lawsuit about?
Nintendo Co., Ltd. and The Pokémon Company brought a patent-infringement lawsuit against Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, in the Tokyo District Court. Pocketpair’s September 19, 2024 statement said it had received notice of the suit and would begin legal proceedings and investigate the claims. At that point, the company said it did not know which patents were at issue.
This is a patent case, not a court ruling that Pocketpair copied Pokémon creature designs. The plaintiffs’ claims have not been established as facts merely because they filed suit.
Which patents and remedies did Pocketpair identify?
In a November 8, 2024 statement, Pocketpair identified three Japanese patents as the patents involved. The dates below are those listed in that statement; they are not court findings about the patents’ validity or whether the game infringes them.
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- 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
| Japanese patent number | Application date | Registration date |
|---|---|---|
| 7,545,191 | July 30, 2024 | August 27, 2024 |
| 7,493,117 | February 26, 2024 | May 22, 2024 |
| 7,528,390 | March 5, 2024 | July 26, 2024 |
Pocketpair described the plaintiffs’ requested relief as an injunction against Palworld, plus 5 million yen and late-payment damages from each plaintiff: 5 million yen for The Pokémon Company and 5 million yen for Nintendo. Pocketpair said the claimed damages cover part of the period from the patents’ registration to the filing of the suit. These are amounts Pocketpair says the plaintiffs requested—not damages awarded by a court.
How has Pocketpair responded?
In a May 8, 2025 notice, Pocketpair said: “We continue to dispute these claims and assert the invalidity of the patents in question.” That is the defendant’s stated position, not a judicial decision that the patents are invalid or that infringement did not occur.
Pocketpair also attributed two gameplay changes to the litigation:
- Patch v0.3.11: Pocketpair said the game replaced summoning a Pal by throwing a Pal Sphere with a static summon beside the player.
- Patch v0.5.5: Pocketpair said gliding was changed so players need an inventory glider, while Pals provide passive buffs.
The changes and their connection to the case are Pocketpair’s account. They do not by themselves establish what the court will decide.
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Did a Japanese patent-office refusal decide the lawsuit?
No. An August 7, 2026 summary from the European Commission-affiliated IP Helpdesk says Japan’s Patent Office refused a related application, Japanese Patent Application No. 2026-019762, on July 7, 2026. The summary expressly distinguishes that application from the patents before the Tokyo District Court. The refusal does not invalidate the three patents Pocketpair identified in the lawsuit and does not decide whether Palworld infringes them.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What is the latest reported court status?
A July 14, 2026 account by patent attorney Takefumi Sugiura at Evorix reported a court event involving technical evidence for October 1 and a preliminary court view for November 9, 2026. The October date had passed by October 8, but no reliable confirmation of what happened at that event—or whether the schedule changed—was available. The November 9 date is therefore a reported schedule, not a guaranteed hearing or decision date.
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
On the available information, it would be inaccurate to say that Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have won, that Pocketpair has been found liable, or that the JPO refusal ended the case. The suit’s post-October 1 status remains unconfirmed here.
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