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No. The available reporting does not show that Nintendo can ban creature summons as a general game mechanic. The U.S. patent at the center of recent headlines describes a particular summoned-character combat system, and a reported non-final USPTO action rejected its claims without finally cancelling the patent. That U.S. patent is also separate from the three Japanese patents Nintendo and The Pokémon Company cited in their lawsuit against Palworld.
What does the U.S. patent cover?
U.S. Patent No. 12,403,397 concerns a particular system for summoning a character to fight, not a general right over every game that lets players call creatures or characters into battle. PC Gamer’s April 2026 report specifically cautioned against treating it as a patent on the broad mechanic.
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That distinction matters: a patent describes and claims a particular invention. The patent number and the phrase “summon character to fight” do not, by themselves, establish that every game with a summon mechanic uses the claimed system or infringes the patent. The reviewed reporting does not establish a general ban on creature summons.
What happened to the U.S. patent’s claims?
Nintendo Life reported on April 1, 2026, that the USPTO rejected all 26 claims in Patent No. 12,403,397 in an April 2026 non-final action following a director-ordered reexamination. A non-final rejection is not a final cancellation: Nintendo could respond, and further proceedings could follow. The reporting does not establish a final outcome for the patent.
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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
Is that U.S. patent the basis of the Palworld lawsuit?
No. Pocketpair’s November 2024 statement identifies three Japanese patents in the Tokyo lawsuit. They are not U.S. Patent No. 12,403,397. The two matters involve different patent numbers, jurisdictions, and proceedings.
| Japanese patent identified by Pocketpair | Application date | Registration date |
|---|---|---|
| No. 7,545,191 | July 30, 2024 | August 27, 2024 |
| No. 7,493,117 | February 26, 2024 | May 22, 2024 |
| No. 7,528,390 | March 5, 2024 | July 26, 2024 |
The dates and patent numbers above are those Pocketpair published in its statement. They identify the patents named by the company; they do not establish that a court has found infringement.
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 did Nintendo and The Pokémon Company request?
According to Pocketpair, the companies filed a patent-infringement action in the Tokyo District Court seeking an injunction against Palworld and monetary relief. Pocketpair says each plaintiff sought 5 million yen, plus late-payment damages. Those figures describe the relief requested, not money awarded by a court.
A patent-law analysis published by Evorix in July 2026 described the case as pending and reported that Pocketpair argued the asserted patents were invalid. Those are reported positions in litigation, not court findings that the patents are invalid or that Palworld infringes them. Patent Graveyard’s summary of public reporting through mid-2026 says the plaintiffs narrowed the case in November 2025 to older versions of Palworld after gameplay changes.
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- 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 is known about the case after the October 1, 2026 hearing?
The October 1 hearing date has passed. The pre-hearing reporting from Evorix and Patent Graveyard does not establish what happened at that hearing or whether the court issued a later order. Without a reliable post-hearing report or court record, it would be premature to describe the case as resolved, to claim a ruling, or to say what happens next.
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- READY, SET, WARP! Race across 24 tracks and warp to 15 CrossWorlds with Travel Rings, a unique gameplay mechanic that transports the iconic characters from the Sonic and SEGA universes into new dimensions. Use unpredictability to your advantage as you change the landscape of each race!
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Rank #4
- 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.
- Multiplayer sessions are even more fun, frantic, and exciting thanks to entertaining character interactions. Need a boost? Try jumping off a teammate’s head or getting a teammate to throw you.
- 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.
- Three additional modes—Boost Rush, Challenges, and Coin Battle—mix up gameplay and add replayability, while also upping the difficulty for players who want to try something harder. Players can use their Mii characters in these modes.
How to read the headlines
- “All games” is not supported: the U.S. patent described in the reporting concerns a particular claimed system, not every creature-summoning mechanic.
- A non-final rejection is not a final revocation: the USPTO action reported in April 2026 rejected 26 claims, but its non-final status leaves the U.S. patent’s later outcome unresolved in the reporting cited here.
- The Palworld case is separate: Pocketpair identifies three Japanese patents, and the U.S. patent is not among them.
- A requested injunction or payment is not a judgment: Pocketpair’s account describes what the plaintiffs sought, not relief the court awarded.
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