The Great Patent Predicament: Nintendo Strikes Out in Japan
In a hilariously ironic twist of fate, Nintendo recently got a big fat “no” from the Japan Patent Office for a capturing mechanic that’s reminiscent of a certain pocket monster franchise. One must wonder if they mistook the patent office for a wild Pokémon themselves, thinking they could easily snag a coveted patent.
The application was filed in March 2024, with a description that could have made fans do a double-take—catching characters in a fashion suspiciously similar to the antics seen in Pokémon Let’s Go Pikachu/Eevee. Apparently, this filing was like trying to sell ice to penguins in Antarctica; maybe attempting to patent a way to execute a classic game mechanic wasn’t the brightest idea.
According to the translation (courtesy of some high-tech wizardry), the mechanic supposedly stated that, once a capture item collides with a character, the computer would ponder the important question of the day: “Was that capture a success?” If the answer was yes—cue drumroll—it would then declare the character a proud new member of the player’s collection. Quite dramatic, isn’t it?
Another entertaining tidbit from this application was the addition of various other creative mechanics. One suggestion involved using similar methods to “hit characters with items”—bringing a whole new meaning to strategic gameplay, or as it’s more fondly known: assaulting poor NPCs. Who knew monster-catching could be so… violent?
The JPO’s Brilliant Observation
As pointed out by the ever-watchful sleuths over at GamesFray, the Japan Patent Office wasn’t having any of it. They reviewed some ‘prior art’—which is a fancy way of saying “hey, this has been done before,” pulling examples as solid as an opponent’s shield in a boss battle. Ark? Craftopia? Monster Hunter 4? And, just for good measure, Pokémon Go? Yep, the list kept stacking up, making it clear that Nintendo’s idea was as fresh as last week’s bread.
The official Notice of Refusal from the JPO humorously pointed to how the inventions claimed in the application had been around long before anyone even thought of filing this patent. Apparently, they don’t take too kindly to innovation that isn’t so innovative. Who would have thought? Patents being a competitive arena is about as shocking as finding out Bowser is still up to no good.
The Legal Circus Continues
And let’s not forget about the legal drama. Nintendo has been embroiled in a legal showdown with Pocketpair—the creators of Palworld. It was reported that Pocketpair could be the mysterious third party that turned in that oh-so-convenient “prior art.” The plot thickens like a good bowl of ramen!
While the JPO’s slap-down isn’t a death knell for Nintendo in its legal escapade against Pocketpair, it is worth mentioning that judges often tend to listen to patent examiners who know their stuff. Imagine trying to argue how capturing a creature is a novel concept to someone who has seen it all; talk about an uphill battle.
To make matters spicier, just last month, Nintendo managed to snag a US patent covering the art of summoning characters to do battle on behalf of the player. One can only hope they filed applications for a chapter on getting “NOs” in return.
