The Pokemon Company Wins Copyright Lawsuit Against Game That’s NOT Palworld

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Certain video game manufacturers exhibit stricter policies compared to others, leading to a common joke within the gaming community: Whenever Nintendo perceives unauthorized usage of its intellectual property, it is known for staunchly defending its rights.

As a gaming enthusiast, I’ve been following the ongoing battle between The Pokemon Company and Palworld quite closely. Initially, many thought that Palworld was merely copying our beloved franchise, but it turns out, there were other instances where the company found its intellectual property being mimicked as well.

The Pokemon Company Wins $15 Million Lawsuit

As per a report from GamesBiz, as reported by IGN, the Pokémon Company has successfully won a lawsuit worth approximately 107 million Chinese yuan (equivalent to $15 million USD). This legal victory was against the mobile game “Pocket Monster Reissue” or “Koudaiyaoguai Fuke”, a turn-based role-playing game that unlawfully used original Pokémon characters such as Pikachu and Ash Ketchum.

In 2015, the game was released and quickly gained a significant following. As reported by The Pokemon Company, a supposedly copycat game raked in approximately $42 million in annual profits.

This game showcases certain original Pokemon artwork that hasn’t been modified, and you can take a look at some footage of its gameplay right over here.

Any enthusiast of Pokémon will swiftly identify all the well-known figures, ranging from Ash to Professor Oak; the game didn’t make any modifications to the appearance of the starter Pokémon, and players are still presented with the choice between Charmander, Squirtle, and Bulbasaur.

As a passionate fan, I wasn’t taken aback by the speculation that the sample video showcased a game likely to face copyright infringement charges. However, what sets Palworld apart is its creation of unique characters and incorporation of distinct gameplay features, making it a more challenging target for The Pokemon Company to silence their operations.

The Pokemon Company and the Fandom

In relation to a brand such as Pokémon, the company’s position is that they generally don’t actively seek to quash fan-made projects. They take action only when these projects have overstepped a particular boundary or line.

Despite varying circumstances, it’s been reported that The Pokemon Company has taken on numerous fan-driven initiatives, including the development of a DIY Pokemon game creator and a project known as Pokemon Uranium, which had been underway for nearly a decade.

Essentially, it seems that the boundary is likely set when a project intends to generate profit, but The Pokemon Company isn’t expecting to receive any of these earnings.

It’s no wonder that the creators of Pokémon are cautious about how others represent their brand, given that they stick faithfully to their winning formula.

Pokemon with Guns

Despite The Pokemon Company’s victory in this instance, there remains awe among many as they observe Palworld, a game that has persisted for a year without meeting a shutdown fate.

While there are strong similarities in terms of appearance and gameplay, reminiscent of Pokémon, their legal team acknowledges that they haven’t found a convincing argument for any copyright violation taking place.

Fans are happy that Palworld offers a unique new take on a familiar brand.

Palworld is now playable for PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PS5.

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2025-01-21 23:42