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[Lunatic_Gamer]

Analyst Serkan Toto explained how Nintendo sued Japanese mobile gaming powerhouse Colopl in 2017 over similar patent infringements, and eventually won ¥3 billion (around $21 million), plus licensing fees that are still being paid to this day. "It took them four years and in the end it was basically a settlement, but Nintendo won, and they sued them on the ground of six patents," Toto says.

Nintendo this week announced that it had filed a lawsuit against Palworld over the creature-collectathon's patent infringement, not copyright infringement, meaning it might have "given up" on arguing that Pals looked too much like Pokemons. While the details of the suit aren't yet public, the focus on patents probably indicates that certain Palworld game mechanics are - as the Big N's legal team will argue - under Nintendo's ownership, for better or for worse.

"They have a patent on when you have an isometric view, and then a character is covered by a tree, for example, the character can still be seen as a shadow," Toto says. "This is in like every single isometric game. They had the desire back in 2017 to spit in Colopl's bowl, and came up with these patents." Nintendo's sweeping list of patents means it likely "could have sued half of the gaming industry back in 2017," according to Toto.

"They have thousands and thousands of patents on other things," Toto continues. "And they can decide when they want to initiate a lawsuit, and when they don't want to initiate a lawsuit."

Palworld has become a monster success and shifted tens of millions of sales in the months since its launch, so why did Nintendo choose this particular moment to declare legal action? Toto reckons that "Nintendo felt threatened" as Palworld has began expanding into multiplatform releases, anime, and merchandising of the Pals - areas where The Pokemon Company traditionally makes its billions.

Amid the Palworld dispute, one analyst says Nintendo only strikes when it wants to because it "could have sued half the gaming industry back in 2017"

"They have thousands and thousands of patents on other things"

www.gamesradar.com

 

[Barakov]

 

[Jinzo Prime]

Analyst Serkan Toto explained how Nintendo sued Japanese mobile gaming powerhouse Colopl in 2017 over similar patent infringements, and eventually won ¥3 billion (around $21 million), plus licensing fees that are still being paid to this day. "It took them four years and in the end it was basically a settlement, but Nintendo won, and they sued them on the ground of six patents," Toto says.

Nintendo this week announced that it had filed a lawsuit against Palworld over the creature-collectathon's patent infringement, not copyright infringement, meaning it might have "given up" on arguing that Pals looked too much like Pokemons. While the details of the suit aren't yet public, the focus on patents probably indicates that certain Palworld game mechanics are - as the Big N's legal team will argue - under Nintendo's ownership, for better or for worse.

"They have a patent on when you have an isometric view, and then a character is covered by a tree, for example, the character can still be seen as a shadow," Toto says. "This is in like every single isometric game. They had the desire back in 2017 to spit in Colopl's bowl, and came up with these patents." Nintendo's sweeping list of patents means it likely "could have sued half of the gaming industry back in 2017," according to Toto.

"They have thousands and thousands of patents on other things," Toto continues. "And they can decide when they want to initiate a lawsuit, and when they don't want to initiate a lawsuit."

Palworld has become a monster success and shifted tens of millions of sales in the months since its launch, so why did Nintendo choose this particular moment to declare legal action? Toto reckons that "Nintendo felt threatened" as Palworld has began expanding into multiplatform releases, anime, and merchandising of the Pals - areas where The Pokemon Company traditionally makes its billions.

Amid the Palworld dispute, one analyst says Nintendo only strikes when it wants to because it "could have sued half the gaming industry back in 2017"

"They have thousands and thousands of patents on other things"

www.gamesradar.com

So they are master patent trolls then? This is going to be interesting.

If PocketPair wasn't in Japan I bet Nintendo would have a harder time bringing a case against them.

 

[coffinbirth]

It is of my opinion they sued because Sony invested in them.

This seems obvious to me, but no-one seems to be mentioning it.

 

[Bonfires Down]

They have a patent on when you have an isometric view, and then a character is covered by a tree, for example, the character can still be seen as a shadow,

Maybe current patent law needs to be reconsidered if you can sue for ridiculous shit like this.

 

[Jesb]

The whole patent system sounds like it needs a complete overhaul on what can and can’t be patented. This lawsuit can set a really bad precedent.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

People forgot how Edge debate ended? One day Nintendo will sue the wrong company.

 

[Ozzie666]

Has anyone patended how Yoda Speaks or how text dialogue in RPGS scrolls across a blue box. This seems like a major flaw in the laws. Beyond stupid if you ask me.
I mean clever of them but at the same time, sounds like they could sue almost every game company out there and run them out of business.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

People forgot how Edge debate ended? One day Nintendo will sue the wrong company.

they back stabbed the wrong one... and the same one has now a partnership with pocket pair... things are getting juicy

 

[Daneel Elijah]

Maybe current patent law needs to be reconsidered if you can sue for ridiculous shit like this.

The whole patent system sounds like it needs a complete overhaul on what can and can’t be patented. This lawsuit can set a really bad precedent.

Microsoft used the same technique with mobile patents a few years ago and got many companies using android OS to pay them. Closer to gaming, Bandai Namco did patent minigames during loading times and that one they did enforce. Nintendo choose not to use that weapon like other did, and in stuff like handhelds they are probably even more in control than we can imagine. Here I suppose that they are really pissed at Palword. Probably the guns.

 

[vaibhavpisal]

Improve Pokemon games instead of wasting millions on this stupid endeavour.

 

[SirTerry-T]

His spirit lives on.

 

[nial]

You don't hate Nintendo enough. You think you do, but you don't.

 

[Hero_Select]

Based on initial responses you can really tell who and who didnt watch the video. You guys have a really strong hate boner for Nintendo lmao

 

[PnCIa]

Showing their yakuza roots.

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

"They have a patent on when you have an isometric view, and then a character is covered by a tree, for example, the character can still be seen as a shadow,"

If I understand this correctly then there's something fundamentally wrong with the way patents and related rights are handled in western civilization.

 

[jufonuk]

they back stabbed the wrong one... and the same one has now a partnership with pocket pair... things are getting juicy

 

[Dr.D00p]

Such a bunch of arrogant cunts.

..which is why I take such great delight in playing their games without buying them.

 

[Ribi]

Fuck Nintendo

 

[Soodanim]

I somehow didn't know about the patent trolling and it seems like others didn't either. It feels like that should be more common knowledge, that's pretty dispicable

Taking down ROM sites is protecting their products, whether we like it or not.

Taking down YouTube videos is retarded, but not the world's biggest crime.

Taking down other companies through patent trolling is straight up power abuse and bullying.

 

[Robb]

Nintendo gonna Nintendo..

 

[Bojji]

Didn't they patent palworld stuff after game launched?

 

[Holammer]

they back stabbed the wrong one... and the same one has now a partnership with pocket pair... things are getting juicy

As I mentioned in another thread, they just sealed a merch & media deal with Sony Music and there are rumours they are going to show the PS5 version of Palworld at TGS.
Will be interesting to see how they respond. Kudos to Sony if they go ahead and show the game with an "available now".

As for the analyst? If he's some fancy anal-cyst he should know selective enforcement of intellectual property will void it. The judge will ask tough questions as to why they haven't enforced gameplay related patents rigorously until now.

 

[Thief1987]

Based on initial responses you can really tell who and who didnt watch the video. You guys have a really strong hate boner for Nintendo lmao

It's justified. It's the most vile company in the industry by far

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

It is of my opinion they sued because Sony invested in them.

This seems obvious to me, but no-one seems to be mentioning it.

I think this is so "in your face" that doesn't need mentioning.

And it's fucking stupid. They can't sue "half the industry" when they aren't at the top of the tech race and the other companies might patent troll so they will never get there.

It's a petty attitude that can only backfire.

 

[tomato shrub]

Only basement dwellers and sad dorks are still on the side of Nintendo here or act like their lawyers, which you sadly still see often enough online. And I don't even think highly of Palworld.

 

[Begleiter]

It's nonsense. A lot of their patents wouldn't stand up if tested in other jurisdictions, Nintendo is relying on their size and the favourable conditions of the Japanese legal system. They're selective about who they sue because a ton of their patents would be thrown out and suits lost if the conditions aren't ideal.

 

[Herbspiceguy]

I just think it's funny how Nintendo is painted as this big evil corpo, as it's such a huge contrast to the nature of their games.

Also, I wasn't aware of Palworld merch (or anime). I just checked out https://palworld-shop.com and I'm surprised they're already pushing so much merch.

 

[Kerotan]

When you make so many games for children, you eventually start acting like children. Grow up Nintendo.

 

[Lunarorbit]

It is of my opinion they sued because Sony invested in them.

This seems obvious to me, but no-one seems to be mentioning it.

Interesting. They love fucking Sony over. Learning the history of how ps started it was over Nintendo getting into their own patent problems with music in their games. They had a contract with Sony and Phillips, I believe, and Sony had a patent to music software.

Nintendo got pissed cause they didn't want to pay a licensing fee to Sony for the sound system and canceled their new console with them. Sony was pissed and started ps to compete.

Love Nintendo but their super petty with lawsuits. Yeah yeah I know they have to be to protect their ip but their dicks about it

 

[Neofire]

Nintendo is basically the new Apple when it comes to patentd. They are lucky they are in Japan though because a lot of those patents are just crazy......a patent on a characters shadow behind a tree wtf? Lol

 

[Doom85]

Does this analyst seriously believe this could not quickly be Reverse Uno’d on Nintendo? I know some gamers live in a fantasy world where Nintendo developers do not play non-Nintendo games despite those developers frequently mentioning said non-Nintendo games, but you would think an analyst would know better. Nintendo hardly invented everything in gaming and they definitely could be found guilty in plenty of ways if we got this nitpicky in game design origin.

If Nintendo did want to get that petty, well I hope they’re ready for what comes next. Because as they say:

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

Bandai Namco did patent minigames during loading times and that one they did enforce.

Oh ffs!
This is why we can't have nice things.

And screw Nintendo's isometric shadow patent too!

Here I suppose that they are really pissed at Palword. Probably the guns.

That would make a lot of sense.

 

[SidViscous]

Don’t Nintendo have a patent for pressure sensitive buttons? So the harder or longer you press a button the further you jump, so basically every platformer.

Capcom have some crazy ones too from what I recall

 

[justiceiro]

That's what happens when Nintendo is successful. Instead of improving theirs services and offerings, they simply focus on legal battles for their lawyers.

 

[Daneel Elijah]

Oh ffs!
This is why we can't have nice things.

And screw Nintendo's isometric shadow patent too!


That would make a lot of sense.

I think that EA got away with it on Fifa games. But that patent is over since 2015. I found this link talking about it and how it should never have been granted to Bandai Namco.

 

[grvg]

I know this is patent related and not copyright related, but copyright should only last for 20 years.

If we did not have these stupid fucking IP laws, lots of old series that are rotting in a mega corporations basement would be getting fan games now.

 

[Draugoth]

The only reason they are suing is because Palworld sold 25 million copies and it copied a bunch of Pokémon designs, this probably made some people at Nintendo very mad.

 

[Lethal01]

You don't hate Nintendo enough. You think you do, but you don't.

my hate is a 0/10, guess i could increase it to a 0.01

 

[Fbh]

I honestly think it's ridiculous Nintendo or any other company should be given parents for such basic stuff.

Gaming, like most media, has always thrived on derivative work, Nintendo games included

 

[LiquidMetal14]

This is why the attitude and air around Nintendo sucks. They've been this pompous entity since their NES monopoly

 

[Tams]

I just think it's funny how Nintendo is painted as this big evil corpo, as it's such a huge contrast to the nature of their games.

Also, I wasn't aware of Palworld merch (or anime). I just checked out https://palworld-shop.com and I'm surprised they're already pushing so much merch.

Cosplay Palworld Depresso

Step into the Game: Authentic Palworld Cosplay Collection Transform into your favorite Palworld character with our authentic Palworld Cosplay collection. Whether you're channeling the courage of a brave Pal trainer or embodying the essence of a rare and mystical Pal, our cosplay outfits offer...

palworld-shop.com

 

[Cyberpunkd]

His spirit lives on.

 

[ManaByte]

Nintendo patented throwing a ball to a creature to capture it. That's what they're using in this.

 

[lughnasadh123]

Because if there's one thing Nintendo is known for is their constraint on sending in the lawyers.

 

[Fahdis]

Based on initial responses you can really tell who and who didnt watch the video. You guys have a really strong hate boner for Nintendo lmao

What's your point? Nintendo is a fucking shit company and they deserve it at this interval of gaming. Fuck them.

 

[angrod14]

I hope the Switch 2 is as successful as the Wii U.

 

[Holammer]

I hope the Switch 2 is as successful as the Wii U.

The game industry version of "May you live in interesting times".

 

[Saber]

This is something I keep bringing, the aftermatch. If this silly stuff end up in Nintendos favor, the precendents would be absurdly terrible.
Imagine a company patenting jumps or bonfire like mechanics or even backtracking(castlevania) like mechanics. I could see this stupid shit moving to battles and issuing commands to things(monsters or humans). This will be chaotic.

 

[StereoVsn]

So they are master patent trolls then? This is going to be interesting.

If PocketPair wasn't in Japan I bet Nintendo would have a harder time bringing a case against them.

Yeah, those patents sound generic enough that they would probably be invalidated.