Summary
- The Pokemon Sun and Moon trademarks have been renewed in Japan.
- Trademark renewals are not always tied to game announcements, but instead for copyright protection.
- Fans are cautioned to manage expectations of potential news regarding Pokemon Sun and Moon.
On March 26, The Pokemon Company reportedly renewed the trademarks for Pokemon Sun and Moon in Japan, nearly nine years after the games launched on the 3DS. While trademark renewals are sometimes made before a potential announcement, the Pokemon Sun and Moon renewal was likely done as a form of IP protection.
Initially released in 2016 on the 3DS, Pokemon Sun and Moon heralded the seventh mainline generation of the franchise. Pokemon Sun and Moon took players to the tropical Alola region, inspired by the US State of Hawaii, and introduced trainers to a new critter classification called regional variants. Alolan variations of past Pokemon like Meowth, Grimer, and Exeggutor had entirely different appearances and types than their original counterparts. Pokemon Sun and Moon also introduced Z-Moves as powerful attacks that could be used once per battle. Pokemon Sun and Moon saw enhanced re-releases in 2017, titled Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
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Just a month after the 2025 Pokemon Day event, The Pokemon Company wasted no time renewing a specific trademark. As reported by GoNintendo, Twitter user Necrolipe posted that the Pokemon Sun and Moon trademarks were renewed in Japan on March 26. Necrolipe shared a screenshot of the Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon game trademarks being approved for renewal by Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak, who together form The Pokemon Company.
Pokemon Sun And Moon Trademarks Renewed in Japan
Although trademark renewals are often done before game announcements, they can also be a form of copyright protection ahead of any trademark expiration dates. This follows a recent trend from Nintendo, as the company renewed its trademarks on its iconic Seal of Quality logo and The Legend of Zelda game series in February as a way to protect its properties.
However, Pokemon Sun and Moon are not the only specific games to get a sudden trademark renewal in Japan this month. On March 12, Capcom surprisingly renewed the Dino Crisis trademark, despite the late ’90s series being dormant for decades. Two months before Capcom filed for a trademark renewal, a PC port of Dino Crisis was launched in January 2025 with enhanced visuals and graphics options.
Despite the recent trademark renewal, fans may want to temper their expectations of any news that concerns Pokemon Sun and Moon. However, given that a surprise Nintendo Direct will air on March 27 and cover various Switch titles, it remains to be seen what will come out of Nintendo’s recent activities.
- Released
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November 18, 2016
- ESRB
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E
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo