The Pokemon Company has finally addressed the growing concerns surrounding Palworld, indicating potential copyright infringement issues. In a recent statement, The Pokemon Company responded to numerous inquiries about a game released in January 2024, strongly suggesting Palworld as the subject of discussion. While not explicitly naming the game, the statement expressed the company’s lack of authorization for the use of Pokemon intellectual property or assets in the mentioned game. The company vowed to conduct a thorough investigation and take necessary actions to address any potential infringement on Pokemon’s intellectual property rights.
Nintendo has already taken action against Palworld by swiftly removing a Pokemon-themed mod that replaced the in-game models with Pokemon characters. This rapid response has triggered concerns within modding communities, with some fearing additional actions from Nintendo in the future.
In response to these allegations, Pocketpair, the developer of Palworld, insisted that they have no intention of infringing on the intellectual property of other companies. The statement did not, however, clarify whether this assurance would be sufficient to avoid legal consequences. The ongoing debate revolves around the similarities between certain creatures in Palworld and Pokemon designs, with arguments potentially centering on whether the appearances of individual animals can be subject to copyright.
A former legal head from The Pokemon Company shared their perspective, describing Palworld as “the usual ripoff nonsense” that they encountered frequently during their previous role. This sentiment suggests industry skepticism regarding the originality and potential infringement of Palworld’s designs. As investigations progress and legal considerations are made, the situation is expected to unfold further.
