Pokemon Company to Launch Probe to Protect Its IP Rights Over New Viral Game

The Pokemon Company intended to fight for its intellectual property after a new game went viral. On Thursday, Jan. 25, it said it would act if another company violated its IP rights.

According to Reuters, The Pokemon Company issued a statement and revealed its stance when a game titled "Palworld" went viral not long after its release. The trending game was developed and published by another Japanese firm.

Start of IP Infringement Issue

The new game was also called "Pokemon with guns" by those who have seen or tried the game already and debates about this have started in various online communities. With the discussions among fans, the potential infringing on intellectual property started to come up, which caught The Pokemon Company's attention.

The brand manager responsible for licensing the Pokemon franchise confirmed it has received many inquiries about the new game published by another company this month. The company responded by saying it would defend its IP.

"We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in that game," The Pokemon Company said in a short press release. "We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokémon. We will continue to cherish and nurture each and every Pokémon and its world, and work to bring the world together through Pokémon in the future."

Palworld Survival Game

Pocket Pair released the new "Palworld" game title on Jan. 19. It is an action-adventure survival game set in an open world inhabited by animal-like creatures called "Pals."

The players can battle and catch the creatures to use them in fights and building bases. Tech Crunch reported that in its defense, Pocketpair insisted that "Palworld" resembles "Ark Survival" more than "Pokemon."

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