Nintendo, Pokemon Sue ‘Palworld’ Maker For Patent Infringement Reuters

TOKYO (Reuters) – Nintendo and The Pokemon Company have filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the maker of the hit survival game “Palworld”, the companies said on Thursday.

The suit, filed Wednesday in the Tokyo District Court, seeks an injunction and damages on the grounds that the game, produced and released by Tokyo-based Pocketpair Inc, infringes multiple patent rights.

Palworld, dubbed “Pokemon with weapons”, became a hit with more than 25 million players within a month of its launch in mid-January. In the game, players can use weapons to capture and train cute creatures known as “buddies”.

Pocketpair representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Pokemon Company said in January that it would investigate and take action against any infringement of intellectual property rights.

Pocketpair announced in July the formation of a joint venture company, Palworld Entertainment Inc, in collaboration with Sony (NYSE:) Music Entertainment and Aniplex Inc to promote Palworld’s licensing business globally.