September 17th 2024.
The Pokémon Company is not one to be trifled with. If you dare to copy their beloved characters or games, they will come after you with full force. And recently, it seems that they have won a major legal battle against six Chinese companies who were accused of copying their iconic franchise.
It all started with the release of Palworld, a highly anticipated game that received mixed reviews but still managed to sell over five million copies in just three days. However, its success was short-lived as it faced backlash for its striking similarities to Pokémon. The Pokémon Company even issued a statement saying they would investigate if Palworld infringed on their intellectual property rights.
Nine months later, The Pokémon Company announced that they had won a whopping $15 million in damages from the lawsuit. This case was filed back in 2021, against the companies responsible for developing and publishing Pocket Monster Reissue, a turn-based mobile game that was accused of plagiarizing characters like Ash Ketchum and Pikachu.
While the lawsuit may have been a long and grueling process, it seems that it was all worth it for The Pokémon Company. A year after its release, Pocket Monster Reissue had made a staggering $43 million in total revenue. However, the company initially claimed damages worth $72.5 million, so it's clear that they were not letting this copyright infringement slide.
In the ruling, one company was ordered to pay the $15 million in damages, while three others were held jointly responsible for a portion of the damages. The remaining two companies have filed an appeal with the court, but it's unlikely that they will be able to overturn the decision.
It's no surprise that The Pokémon Company was able to come out on top in this legal battle. Not only is the name "Pocket Monster" an exact copy of their franchise, but the marketing materials also made it difficult for the copycats to argue against their claim. It's evident in the images used to promote the game, which bear a striking resemblance to the original Pokémon characters.
In the end, it's clear that The Pokémon Company was never going to lose this case. And while they may have won a substantial amount of money, it's also a victory for the protection of their intellectual property. So, if you ever think of copying their characters or games, remember that they will come after you with all their might.
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