Nintendo Wields Its Patent Expertise Against ‘Pokémon With Guns’

Behind Nintendo Co.’s fierce protection of wide-ranging intellectual property is a legal team adept at weaponizing patents against potential rivals. Now those attorneys are setting their sights on a studio that’s risen to prominence with a game the industry has dubbed Pokémon With Guns.

Patent records suggest Nintendo may have taken action against Tokyo-based Pocketpair Inc. within weeks of hit game Palworld’s release in January, according to patent attorney Ryo Arashida. “Most likely, Nintendo and Pokémon officials actually played Palworld before amending its patent holdings to include Palworld gameplay,” he said.

Palworld

Source: Pocketpair, Inc.

Nintendo’s
seeking an injunction ...