Key Takeaways
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- The Japan Patent Office (JPO) has rejected Nintendos patent application aimed at blocking Pocketpairs game, Palworld, due to lack of originality as similar mechanics already exist in other games.
- The JPOs decision validates Pocketpairs argument that the attempted patents were not genuinely innovative and could have easily been designed based on existing games.
- Nintendo maintains its position that mods or indie games should not be considered prior art, facing scrutiny over its patent strategy.
- If Nintendo cannot adequately revise its application, the company may appeal the decision in intellectual property court by December 17th.
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Rejection of Nintendo’s Pokémon-Like Game Mechanism Patent by JPO over Lack of Originality
The Japan Patent Office (JPO) rejected a patent application from Nintendo and The Pokémon Company aimed at blocking Pocketpair’s game, Palworld. The JPO cited a lack of originality, as similar mechanics already existed in games such as Ark: Survival Evolved, Monster Hunter 4, Craftopia (also by Pocketpair), Kantai Collection, and Pokémon Go. This decision validates Pocketpair’s argument that the attempted patents were not genuinely innovative. Despite the rejection, Nintendo maintains its position that mods or indie games should not be considered prior art, even as the company faces scrutiny over its patent strategy. On October 17, 2025, the Japan Patent Office rejected patent application number 2024031879. Examiner Kazumasa Nakamura stated that the application did not meet the inventive step criteria under Article 29 (2) of Japan’s Patent Law, suggesting that a professional developer could have easily designed Nintendo’s ideas based on existing games. Nintendo has until December 17th to respond to the rejection or modify the application. If Nintendo cannot adequately revise its application, the company may appeal the decision in intellectual property court.
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“Ever found yourself craving a cinematic break? Bruno Pferd’s latest Netflix roundup (published Oct 20, 2025) has just the ticket, diving into cult classics like ‘The Blair Witch Project’ and ‘American Psycho’, plus the buzzworthy thriller ‘A House of Dynamite’. But if you’re more in the mood for gaming history, Marcus Thompson’s recent post (Oct 27th) unveils the untold story of Hideo Kojima’s near collaboration with The Wachowski sisters on a Matrix game. Meanwhile, fans of Towa And The Guardians Of The Sacred Tree can now immerse themselves in its breathtaking soundtrack, composed by Hitoshi Sakimoto and available for streaming everywhere. To top it off, Marcus’ latest post (Oct 18th) includes a special feature showcasing one of the game’s artists creating a speedpainting to the very soundtrack you’ll be listening to!”
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