Recently, The Pokémon Company achieved a significant legal victory against a Chinese mobile app, which was found to have copied elements from the Pokémon games. This lawsuit, part of a broader effort to protect its intellectual property, has been ongoing for over a year.
The case centered around an app named “Pocket Monster: Remake.” In 2022, The Pokémon Company claimed the app stole various aspects from its games, estimating damages at around £60 million (or about $70 million). They argued that the app not only copied visuals but also structure and gameplay elements directly from Pokémon titles. For those interested, there is footage available on YouTube showing how the app operated.
After a lengthy legal battle, the case concluded last September when a Chinese court ruled in favor of The Pokémon Company. However, the involved companies, Guangzhou Maichi Network Technology and Khorgos Fangchi Network Technology, appealed the decision, which extended the litigation until last week when the court finalized the ruling.
While the exact compensation amount is not publicly disclosed, The Pokémon Company’s corporate website revealed that the two companies faced a “substantial economic price” as well as “significant reputational damage.” This indicates that they had to financially compensate The Pokémon Company for their actions, which seriously affected their public image.
The companies offered a formal apology stating that they had extensively used design elements from the Pokémon video game series and acknowledged they had taken unfair advantage of the Pokémon brand’s fame. They recognized that their actions amounted to unfair competition and copyright infringement, which ultimately harmed the original Pokémon games. They expressed sincere regret toward The Pokémon Company, its rights holders, and the gaming community for the substantial losses caused by their actions.
As part of the resolution, the offending app has been pulled from the market, and both companies committed to prioritizing the protection of intellectual property in the future. They assured that they would not infringe on the rights associated with Pokémon games going forward.
In another ongoing legal matter, The Pokémon Company is also currently engaged in litigation against the developers of another game called Palworld. This case has been focusing on the Japanese courts so far, but there are indications that it could expand internationally, particularly following recent patent approvals by Nintendo in the U.S.
While this recent victory is crucial for The Pokémon Company in maintaining their brand and creative integrity, the situation highlights the larger issue of intellectual property rights in the gaming industry. The company has made it clear that it will fight against any attempts to exploit its beloved franchise. Fans and players are encouraged to share their thoughts about this case and the ongoing challenges within the gaming industry related to copyright infringement.