Nintendo denied touchscreen-specific patent as the legal battle against Palworld developer Pocketpair continues
Nintendo continues to face setbacks in its legal battle against Palworld developer Pocketpair over monster-catching and throwing mechanics. The company has been denied multiple patents as part of its intellectual property strategy against what it claims are overlapping gameplay elements with Palworld.
Most recently, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) rejected a Nintendo patent specifically designed for touchscreen-based monster-catching mechanics. The company had previously suffered another USPTO rejection for a patent covering character summoning and battle mechanics on non-final grounds. Both rejections cited insufficient differentiation from prior art and lack of inventive step, indicating the patents failed to meet the novelty threshold required for protection.
Paralleling these setbacks, the Japan Patent Office made public a Nintendo patent relating to monster-catching mechanics with a focus on touchscreen technology. Reports speculate this filing targets threats from Palworld Mobile specifically.
Throughout the dispute, Nintendo has pursued multiple additional patents to strengthen its legal position, but has already been forced to amend claims in response to office rejections. The accumulating patent denials suggest Nintendo may face significant hurdles in its attempt to defend what it views as exclusive mechanics, as patent examiners have questioned whether monster-catching and battle systems constitute truly novel inventions worthy of IP protection.