MYworldfix

Nintendo's ongoing efforts to safeguard its intellectual property regarding in-game mechanics for capturing, battling, and riding creatures have encountered a significant obstacle. The Japanese Patent Office recently dismissed one of Nintendo's patent applications, citing a lack of originality or an \"inventive step\" that would distinguish it from previously established technologies. This ruling, while not directly related to Nintendo's legal action against Pocketpair, the creators of Palworld, holds potential implications for the broader dispute, offering Pocketpair a possible avenue to challenge the foundational patents under contention.

The specific patent application in question, identified as JP 2024-031879, describes a system for aiming and deploying items to either capture or combat in-game creatures, similar to the mechanics found in titles like Pokémon Legends: Arceus. For a patent to be granted, the applicant must demonstrate a unique innovation that sets it apart from existing technologies. Nintendo asserted that its combined system of third-person aiming with dual-mode item throwing—allowing for either creature incapacitation/capture or the initiation of combat by deploying another creature—was sufficiently novel.

However, the Japanese Patent Office did not concur with Nintendo's assessment. Following a submission from a third party, the JPO determined that similar aiming and projectile mechanics were already present in various games released prior to Nintendo's application. The cited examples of prior art included creature battling systems and status-affecting projectiles in ARK, tranq bomb deployment in Monster Hunter, monster capture mechanics in Pocketpair's own Craftopia, and even the Poké Ball aiming system in Nintendo's mobile game, Pokémon Go. The JPO concluded that the claims in Nintendo's application could have been \"easily made by persons who have common knowledge in the technical field,\" effectively denying the patent.

It is important to note that this decision from the JPO is not final. Nintendo retains the right to appeal the rejection to Japan's Intellectual Property High Court, a process that could be protracted. While the refusal of the 031879 application does not directly alter the current trajectory of the Palworld lawsuit, it could significantly empower Pocketpair. The developer may leverage this rejection to formally request that the presiding judge consider the JPO's findings when evaluating the validity of the patents that Nintendo is asserting against them.

Considering Nintendo's previously articulated stance that \"mods don't count as real games\" in a related context, it is anticipated that the company will vigorously explore all available avenues to reinforce the legitimacy of its intellectual property as the legal battle progresses. This recent setback from the Japanese Patent Office, therefore, introduces an intriguing dynamic into the ongoing legal confrontation between the gaming giants.