The Pokémon Company secures a significant victory in a copyright infringement lawsuit against Chinese companies, winning $15 million in damages. The lawsuit, filed in December 2021, targeted the developers of "Pokémon Monster Reissue," a mobile RPG accused of blatantly copying Pokémon characters, creatures, and gameplay.
The Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court ruled in favor of The Pokémon Company, concluding that "Pokémon Monster Reissue" went beyond mere inspiration and constituted blatant plagiarism. The game featured strikingly similar characters, including Pikachu and Ash Ketchum, and mirrored the core turn-based battle and creature-collecting mechanics of the Pokémon franchise. The game's icon even used Pikachu artwork from Pokémon Yellow.
While the awarded $15 million is less than the initial $72.5 million sought, which included demands for a public apology and cessation of development, distribution, and promotion of the infringing game, it serves as a strong deterrent against future copyright infringement. Three of the six companies involved have reportedly filed appeals.
The Pokémon Company reiterated its commitment to protecting its intellectual property, ensuring fans worldwide can enjoy Pokémon content without disruption. This stance, however, has drawn criticism in the past for its actions against fan projects.
Former Chief Legal Officer Don McGowan clarified the company's approach, stating that they don't actively seek out fan projects but intervene when projects gain significant traction, such as through funding campaigns. He emphasized that the company typically learns about fan projects through media or personal discovery.
Despite this policy, The Pokémon Company has issued takedown notices for some smaller fan projects, including creation tools, games like Pokémon Uranium, and even viral videos.
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