Nintendo’s Legal Battle Against Palworld Hits a Major Snag—And It’s Not Looking Good for the Gaming Giant. Just when you thought the drama between Nintendo and Palworld couldn’t get any more intense, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has thrown a curveball that could significantly weaken Nintendo’s case. But here’s where it gets controversial: the USPTO has taken the rare step of re-examining a Pokémon-related patent previously granted to Nintendo, suggesting it might be invalid. Could this be the turning point in the ongoing patent infringement lawsuit against Palworld? Let’s dive in.
Following Japan’s recent rejection of Nintendo’s attempt to patent Pokémon-style monster capture and throwing mechanics—a move that could have been a game-changer in the lawsuit—the U.S. has now questioned the validity of a different patent. Back in September, Nintendo was granted Patent No. 12,403,397, which covers gameplay mechanics involving summoning a sub-character to battle enemies. However, USPTO Director John A. Squires has personally ordered a re-examination of this patent after discovering prior art references in two older patents. And this is the part most people miss: this re-examination doesn’t automatically invalidate the patent, but it makes revocation highly likely.
In his order, Squires highlights “substantial new questions of patentability” regarding claims in Nintendo’s patent. These claims describe mechanics like controlling a player character in a virtual space, summoning sub-characters to battle, and automating their movements. The twist? Squires points to two earlier patents—one by Konami (2002) and another by Nintendo itself (2019)—that cover similar manual and automatic control mechanics. This raises a bold question: Is Nintendo trying to patent something that’s already been done?
Here’s where it gets even more intriguing. The re-examination order—the first of its kind since 2012—gives Nintendo just two months to respond. Meanwhile, third parties (like Palworld developer Pocketpair) can also challenge the patent during this window. This comes on the heels of Japan’s Patent Office rejecting Nintendo’s attempt to patent capture and throwing mechanics, citing prior art in games like Monster Hunter 4, Ark: Survival Evolved, and Pokémon Go. Talk about a double blow!
Nintendo’s lawsuit against Pocketpair, filed after Palworld’s explosive success, accused the studio of infringing on “multiple” patents. Pocketpair, however, vowed to fight back, arguing that small studios shouldn’t be stifled from pursuing creative ideas. But with these recent patent setbacks, is Nintendo’s case starting to crumble? Or is this just another hurdle in a long legal battle?
What do you think? Is Nintendo overreaching with its patent claims, or is Palworld crossing the line? Let us know in the comments—this debate is far from over!
