Nintendo and Pokémon have filed a lawsuit against the producer of Palworld, alleging patent infringement.
Nintendo and The Pokemon Company have initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against the developer of the popular survival adventure game Palworld, as announced on Thursday, September 19.
The lawsuit, submitted to the Tokyo District Court on Wednesday, seeks both an injunction and damages, alleging that the game, created and launched by Tokyo-based Pocketpair Inc, violates several patent rights.
Palworld, often referred to as "Pokemon with guns," quickly gained popularity, amassing over 25 million players within a month of its mid-January release. In this game, players utilize firearms to capture and train adorable creatures known as "pals."
Representatives from Pocketpair have not yet provided a response to requests for comment.
In January, The Pokemon Company indicated its intention to investigate and address any violations of its intellectual property rights.
In July, Pocketpair announced the formation of a joint venture, Palworld Entertainment Inc, in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment and Aniplex Inc, aimed at promoting the global licensing of Palworld.