A momentous blow has been dealt in the ongoing battle of the clones – though not the one set in the sprawling galaxy of Star Wars. The esteemed Pokemon Company has emerged victorious in a significant copyright infringement lawsuit, extracting a hefty sum of $15 million from a rival developer. This development undoubtedly alters the landscape for those seeking to amass a fortune in the realm of Pokedollars.
The legal volley launched by The Pokemon Company targeted the creators and distributors of Pocket Monster Reissue, a turn-based mobile game that made its debut in 2015. The game, rife with what appears to be shameless replicas of beloved characters from the Pokemon universe, such as the legendary Ash Ketchum and the iconic Pikachu, achieved notable success. The South China Morning Post reveals that the game amassed a staggering $40 million in revenue in just one year.
In 2021, The Pokemon Company unleashed a $72 million copyright infringement lawsuit against the architects of Pocket Monster Reissue. Today, the gavel of justice resounded in favor of the venerable company, deeming PMR culpable of violating the Unfair Competition Prevention Law. One of the accused developers has been ordered to dispense over $15 million in reparations, while three others are collectively liable. Presently, the three offending entities are initiating an appeal against the verdict, as reported by IGN.
While this legal triumph spells victory for the illustrious Pokemon franchise, the war against the imitators is far from its denouement. Earlier this year, Nintendo set its sights on the alarmingly derivative and unimaginative Poke-Zoo intellectual property. Concurrently, The Pokemon Company issued a somewhat cryptic missive concerning Palworld, the controversial “Pokemon with Guns” game: “We have been inundated with inquiries regarding a certain game released in January 2024. No authorization has been granted for the utilization of Pokemon intellectual property or assets in said game. Rest assured, we are resolved to explore and address any transgressions that encroach upon the hallowed grounds of Pokemon intellectual property rights.”
