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Pocketpair Continues To Defend Against Nintendo's Lawsuit, Cites Numerous Games and Mods as Evidence

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A legal battle is currently underway between Nintendo and Pocketpair, the developer of the popular game Palworld, with the latest insights into Pocketpair’s defense strategy reported by GamesFray, a platform specializing in legal issues within the gaming industry. Details presented before the Tokyo District Court reveal Pocketpair’s approach to challenging Nintendo’s patent infringement allegations, which could have far-reaching implications for the gaming industry.

Pocketpair argues that the patents cited by Nintendo are not original, as similar mechanics have already been used in numerous other games and technologies — a concept legally known as “prior art.” Their claim is that Nintendo should never have been granted those patents because the referenced mechanics were already in use. As evidence, Pocketpair presents an extensive list of games, including their own title Craftopia (2021), ARK: Survival Evolved (2017), Rune Factory 5, and even Nintendo’s own The Legend of Zelda. Additionally, mods such as Pixelmon for Minecraft and Nukamon for Fallout 4 are also included in their defense.

Other cited titles include Pokémon Legends: Arceus, Pokémon Sword and Shield, Final Fantasy XIV, Tomb Raider, Far Cry 5, Pikmin 3 Deluxe, Titanfall 2, Octopath Traveler, Monster Hunter 4G/Ultimate, and many others. Pocketpair emphasizes that games like Rune Factory 5, Titanfall 2, and Pikmin 3 Deluxe showcase mechanics involving item throwing or character release, while Pocket Souls, Octopath Traveler, and Final Fantasy XIV demonstrate targeting and capture chance systems. The Unity game engine is also cited as part of their evidence.

According to Pocketpair, the combination of these elements from various games proves that Nintendo’s patents are neither unique nor innovative, a key legal requirement for patent validity under Japanese law. This strategy sheds new light on the issue of patents in the gaming industry and could spark debates about how much protection common gameplay mechanics can legitimately receive. The Tokyo court has yet to issue a ruling, but Pocketpair’s thorough defense signals that they are ready to fight.

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