Nintendo's Palworld lawsuit could set worrying new precedent
If you think Nintendo's Palworld lawsuit is bad, players are worried about who else the gaming giant's lawyers will be coming for.
24th Sep 2024 16:49
Images via Pocketpair | The Pokemon Company
Nintendo's Palworld lawsuit could set worrying new precedent
If you think Nintendo's Palworld lawsuit is bad, players are worried about who else the gaming giant's lawyers will be coming for.
24th Sep 2024 16:49
Images via Pocketpair | The Pokemon Company
If there's one thing we know not to do in the world of video games, it's mess with Nintendo. From Smash Bros. tournaments to Mario clones, the gaming giant is about as litigious as they come. So, when Palworld was hyped as "Pokemon with guns", we knew it probably wouldn't be long for this world.
Following its release in January, Palworld has had a meteoric rise, breaking Steam records and continuing to make the most of its credentials as a more mature monster catcher. Unfortunately, Palworld's success and developer Pocketpair's defiant attitude have only put it further on Nintendo's radar.
Palworld lawsuit had us worried about the future of gaming
Nintendo having all these generic patents that they can conveniently use to sue other games when they see fit is a bit nasty
byu/johnnylonack ingaming
Over on the r/gaming subreddit, one concerned gamer asks what the future looks like if Nintendo wins. The Palworld lawsuit has been kicked off by accusations that 'Pocketpair has violated multiple' Nintendo patents. As reported by GamesRadar, it looks like a generic catching mechanic could be the one that clinches it.
The OP is concerned that if Nintendo can patent something as broad as a catching mechanic, what stops other companies from doing the same? Imagine if PUBG patented the idea of shrinking map circles for shooters and monopolised the battle royale genre. We'd have to wave goodbye to goliaths like Fortnite and Warzone.
Someone else chimed in, "Absolutely. The issue is that patents in video games aren't used to protect the patent owner, they're weaponised by these overly litigious companies to stomp and stymie any competition - always to the detriment of the consumer experience."
Others pointed to how Apple has patented rounded corners and groups of icons, while Sony also caught flak for its own legal eagles. Bandai Namco famously patented minigames back in the PS1 era, but elsewhere, some have reiterated the importance of patents for the likes of Monolith's beloved Nemesis System.
It's also important to note there are a LOT of Pokemon-esque games out there that have largely escaped Nintendo's grip. Someone concluded, "There is an unspoken rule in the Japanese game industry of 'I won't sue you if you don't sue me' concerning patents. The last time Nintendo sued for patent infringement, they were actually the good guys in the story."
Voyer Law's Haley MacLean suggests to GamesRadar that Palworld's entire premise could be overhauled to ditch the catching mechanic, or at the very worst, the whole game could be pulled. MacLean says it depends on which patents have been violated, but apparently, it's not looking like the law is on Pocketpair's side.
Palworld likely flew too close to the sun, but with reports that Nintendo tried to patent maps in loading screens ahead of Tears of the Kingdom, there are fears it will continue this worrying precedent. Much like the Apple vs Epic Games case, Nintendo vs Pocketpair could be more important than we first thought.
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
