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Over the years, The Pokémon company has made quite a name for itself within the gaming landscape, no thanks to its legal shenanigans. Similar to Nintendo, it’s shown time and again that it means business when it comes to protecting its intellectual property.
Now, while some of these legal moves often feel heavy-handed and downright unbelievable, it’s difficult to deny their necessity at times. For instance, the company has just won a landmark lawsuit against a mobile game that grossed upwards of $42 million in a single year by plagiarizing and infringing on the company’s IP.
The Pokemon Company Just Took Down a Clone That Was Making Millions Every Year
So, here’s what we know so far, as reported byAutomatonvia GameBiz: the lawsuit targets six companies responsible for running a game calledPocket Monster Reissuein China. It’s a turn-based RPG that the company claims to bear too much of a striking resemblance to its video games.
Forget bearing striking resemblance, to be honest, as the game is essentially a carbon copy of the earlier games’ formula that even uses well-known characters like Ash Ketchum and Pikachu without permission.
If it was some lesser-known Pocket Monsters like Meowstic or Maractus, it’d have made sense, but Pikachu? That has to go down in history as one of the boldest moves in gaming, especially when you take the money side into account.
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So, yes,Pocket Monster Reissuewas pulling in a staggering amount of money for its developers—nearly $42 million in just one year. It’s an insane amount, to be honest, but what’s equally amazing is how The Pokémon Company sought $72 million in damages—nearly double whatPocket Monster Reissuewas making—and demanded public apologies across social media.
After lengthy legal proceedings, though, the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court held only one company accountable, with damages totaling 107 million yuan, approximately $15 million. Three other companies involved in the game’s development and publishing have since filed appeals against bearing joint liability.
Now, while we’re sure that there’s going to be more developments in this legal saga, there’s a more significant issue that we can’t help but wonder about.
Love it orabsolutely despise the company and its games, this is a franchise that remains one of the most copied in the world. Yet, despite the relentless legal action it takes to protect its brand, one extremely successful game has seemingly managed to slip through the cracks—Palworld.
PalworldIs the Only Elephant in the Room Left for the Pokémon Company to Address
WhilePocket Monster Reissuereceived swift justice, the same can’t be said for Palworld, a game that has openly drawn comparisons to Game Freak’s juggernaut, was an overnight success story that kicked off 2024’s gaming calendar, and will seeminglyremain a premium title for the forseeable future.
However, despite all the online discourse surrounding the game when it first came out, The Pokémon Company has yet to take concrete legal action against it for some non-discernable reason.
So why hasn’tPalworldfaced the same scrutiny? Well, one reason could be the platform. UnlikePocket Monster Reissue, which clashes with Nintendo and Game Freak’s audience,Palworldis primarily available on PC, Xbox, and PlayStation, with no plans for a mobile or Switch release.
Its positioning on a platform that The Pokémon Company doesn’t care about may have allowed it to fly under the radar successfully.
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Additionally, the game mixes up its gameplay by adding survival and crafting elements, giving it a premise distinct enough from monster-catching RPG to avoid an outright lawsuit—for now.
Fans and legal experts alike, however, are wondering just how long this tip-toeing act of copyright infringement will last. With the game’s ever-present popularity and glaring similarities to Game Freak’s games, and considering Pokémon’s recent victory, it could just be a matter of time before Pocketpair faces the company’s legal wrath.
With that said, though, what are your thoughts on Pokémon winning the lawsuit? Do you thinkPalworldcould be their next target? Let us know in the comments below.
Akshit Dangi
Writer - Gaming
Articles Published :266
Akshit is a supposed human being and gaming writer who lurks in different corners of the internet in search of fascinating rabbit holes. Outside of that, though, you’ll most likely find him staring at a piece of art for days or completing another playthrough of Silent Hill.
