Nintendo's Creature-Catching Patent Rejected Amidst Palworld Legal Battle

Nintendo has faced a setback in its legal efforts in Japan as a patent application concerning monster-catching mechanics, relevant to its dispute with Pocketpair's Palworld, has been denied. This rejection by the Japan Patent Office highlights the complexities of intellectual property in the gaming industry, especially when core gameplay elements are at stake.

Japan Patent Office Rejects Nintendo's Creature-Catching Patent in Palworld-Related Case

In a significant development for the gaming industry, the Japan Patent Office, on October 22, 2025, formally rejected Nintendo's patent application (application no. 2024-031879) for a creature-catching mechanism. This patent, which specifically covered the act of throwing objects to capture creatures or initiate battles in a virtual space, was deemed to lack an \"inventive step.\" The office concluded that the proposed invention could have been easily conceived by individuals with common knowledge in the technical field, referencing "prior art" from various existing games, prominently including \"ARK.\"

This decision holds particular weight for the ongoing legal battle between Nintendo and Pocketpair, the developers of Palworld. Nintendo initiated a patent infringement lawsuit against Pocketpair in September 2024, alleging that Palworld infringed upon multiple of its patent rights, seeking an injunction and compensation for damages. While the rejected patent is not one of the primary patents cited in the lawsuit (JP7493117 and JP7545191), it is closely related, sharing a parent patent with JP7493117 and being the parent of JP7545191. Legal experts suggest that issues with one patent within a family can indicate potential vulnerabilities for others, and patent examiner decisions are often respected in judicial proceedings.

Following the lawsuit, Pocketpair has already made modifications to Palworld's creature-catching and summoning mechanics. Despite the legal challenges, Pocketpair has expressed disappointment over the necessity for these changes but is reportedly still considering a release of Palworld on the Switch 2 platform.

The rejection, although non-final and allowing for modifications and resubmission, places Nintendo in a precarious position regarding its strategy to protect its intellectual property, particularly against games that share thematic or mechanical similarities with its popular Pokémon franchise. The outcome of this and related patent disputes could significantly influence future innovation and competition within the video game development landscape.

This event underscores a crucial debate within the gaming world: the patentability of fundamental game mechanics. While protecting creative works is essential, the rejection of Nintendo's patent application signals a broader sentiment against stifling innovation through overly broad intellectual property claims. It suggests that game mechanics, when not sufficiently novel or unique, should remain accessible to all developers, fostering a more competitive and creative environment. This outcome could encourage companies to focus on genuinely innovative gameplay rather than relying on legal protection for common mechanics, ultimately benefiting players and the industry as a whole.