Nintendo rewrites patent mid-lawsuit against Palworld dev, raising eyebrows across the industry
The Pokémon Company’s legal battle takes a strange turn as Nintendo modifies a key patent to strengthen its case.
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company’s lawsuit against Palworld developer Pocketpair has taken a dramatic twist. In the middle of the ongoing case in Japan, Nintendo has rewritten one of its patents, specifically the one related to ride-switching mechanics, in an apparent attempt to reinforce its infringement claims.
What’s the lawsuit about?
Nintendo alleges that Palworld infringes on three patents tied to:
- Creature capture and release (similar to Pokéballs)
- Mounting and maneuvering rideable characters
- Switching between mounts mid-air
These patents were filed in 2024, after Palworld’s release, but stem from divisional filings based on earlier patents from 2021.
What changed in the patent?
Nintendo added the phrase “even when” to the ride-switching patent, making the language broader and more emphatic. Legal experts say this kind of wording is highly unusual in patent claims:
“I’ve never seen ‘even when’ or ‘even if’ in a patent claim. It’s bizarre,” said IP consultant Florian Mueller, calling it a “Hail Mary” move.
The revised claim now suggests that even if a non-aerial mount is selected, the system can override it and summon an aerial one, potentially matching Palworld’s old gliding mechanic, where players grabbed onto flying Pals mid-air.
Why did Nintendo do this?
According to GamesFray, litigants typically revise patents only when they fear invalidation. By broadening the language, Nintendo may be trying to:
- Survive Pocketpair’s invalidity challenge
- Strengthen its infringement argument
- Deter other developers from using similar mechanics
However, this strategy could backfire. If the revised patent is deemed too vague or subjective, it may be dismissed entirely.
Pocketpair’s defense
Pocketpair has already changed Palworld’s mechanics:
- Removed Pokéball-style summoning
- Replaced gliding Pals with glider equipment
- Updated traversal systems to avoid direct mounting
These changes are part of a three-pronged defense: deny infringement, argue invalidity, and redesign gameplay to avoid conflict.
Nintendo’s aggressive legal stance could set a precedent for how major publishers protect gameplay mechanics. But rewriting a patent mid-case is a risky move, and one that’s drawing scrutiny from legal analysts and indie developers alike.
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