The Pokemon Company Wins Copyright Infringement Lawsuit

The Pokemon Company, Guangzhou Machi Network Technology, and their respective affiliates have reached a legal settlement over the mobile game Pocket Monster: Remake, with the court ultimately ruling in favor of The Pokemon Company. Gamers have seen Nintendo and its affiliates involved in various lawsuits over the years, and occasionally, fans disagree with their decisions, but it’s quite easy to spot overlaps between the game produced by the defendants and classic Pokemon content that made this case worth the trouble.

It’s particularly well known across gaming communities that The Pokemon Company and Nintendo are particularly litigious. If there’s a case to be made for copyright infringement, chances are often that these companies are or already have looked into the matter. One such example of these kinds of events is the case between Palworld developer Pocketpair and The Pokemon Company, although many have disputed the notion that The Pokemon Company is justified in suing Pocketpair. Another situation shows what it looks like when the copyright infringement is more plainly apparent.

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Reports from Automaton along with a newly released statement from The Pokemon Company share that it reached a mediated settlement in a copyright infringement case with Guangzhou Machi Network Technology and its subsidiary Khorgos Fangchi Network Technology. This lawsuit began in July 2015 over the mobile game Pocket Monster: Remake, and based on gameplay footage of a battle, it becomes increasingly clear why The Pokemon Company and its affiliates dedicated so much time and effort to this case. Many assets and designs present in this game appear to have been directly stripped from the Pokemon franchise, with elements from the anime and games visible throughout, like the characters Ash and May.

The Pokemon Company Receives an Apology for Copyright Infringement

In the gameplay of Pocket Monster: Remake, the player can be seen battling iconic Pokemon like Primal Kyogre, Clefairy, and Primal Groudon, while using their own Primal Kyogre, Arceus, and a somewhat redesigned Latias. In addition to these aspects, the gameplay features a rendition of the original Gym Leader battle themes from Pokemon Red and Blue, as well as battle cries that appear to be stripped directly from existing Pokemon games.

The suit closed out as Guangzhou Machi Network Technology and its parent company issued an apology, accepting wrongdoing. The statement further expresses that those involved in the infringement of intellectual property rights belonging to The Pokemon Company and related rights holders have reflected on the consequences of their actions, ultimately learning important lessons that will keep them from making the same mistakes in the future.

Pokemon

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Satoshi Tajiri