#Poké Ball

Nintendo's Pokémon Patent Lawsuit Against Palworld Suffers Setback

Nintendo's bid to patent Poké Ball-style capture mechanics for touchscreen devices has been denied by the Japan Patent Office, dealing a blow to its lawsuit against Palworld, a monster-taming survival game set to release on phones and tablets later this year. The decision cites lack of an "inventive step." This setback continues the ongoing saga since 2024, highlighting the challenges Nintendo faces in leveraging patents to protect its intellectual property in the gaming space.