Pokémon Company Resolves Copyright Dispute with Pocket Monster: Remake Developers

Recently, the Pokémon Company resolved its copyright infringement case against Guangzhou Maichi Network Technology and Khorgos Fangchi Network Technology, the creators of the mobile game Pocket Monster: Remake.

Automaton reported on the Nintendo subsidiary’s mid-February declaration about the settlement, stating that it would “continue to strive for the protection of our intellectual property.” According to the terms of the agreement, Guangzhou and Khorgos have removed the game from listings, issued a public apology, and are expected to pay a “significant financial penalty” to the Pokémon Company.

“We have come to a profound understanding that our actions violated applicable laws during the appellate trial and settlement process,” stated Guangzhou. “Moving forward, we will prioritize the protection of intellectual property, avoid infringing on any intellectual property rights connected to the Pokémon Video Games and their owners, and steer clear of any practices of unfair competition.”

Pocket Monster: Remake was launched in 2015, allowing players to pit their captured creatures (or pocket monsters, if you prefer) against each other in turn-based battles. Numerous monster and character designs closely resemble those from the flagship Nintendo series, and the game reportedly earned $42 million within its first year.

At the time when the Pokémon Company initiated its lawsuit in 2022, it sought $72.5 million in damages along with public apologies from the developers.

According to Automaton, the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court ruled in favor of the Pokémon Company in September 2024, charging Khorgos and Guangzhou with breaching the national Unfair Competition Prevention Act. They were later mandated to pay 107 million yuan (approximately $15 million), but the developers filed an appeal. Following a second hearing in December, the parties reached a settlement.

Pokémon’s series of lawsuits

Nintendo and the Pokémon Company are both known for being aggressive litigants, and frequently, studios developing Pokémon games encounter legal challenges themselves.

For instance, in 2018, the developer of Pokémon Go, Niantic, reached a $1.5 million agreement after a failed community event for the original mobile game. Participants who visited Chicago’s Grant Park experienced severe technical difficulties instead of the creatures they expected to encounter.

More recently, Nintendo took legal action on behalf of Pokémon against developer Pocketpair and its debut game, Palworld. The one-year-old survival game was accused of violating multiple Pokémon patents, particularly regarding how creatures are captured in the game. Along with seeking 10 million yen ($65,450), Nintendo aimed to secure an injunction that would prevent Palworld’s ongoing release.

Upon learning about the specific patents it was accused of infringing upon, Pocketpair stressed its intent to “maintain our stance in this matter through upcoming legal proceedings.”

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