The Pokémon Company secures a significant victory in its copyright infringement lawsuit against Chinese companies. A Shenzhen court awarded $15 million in damages after a lengthy legal battle. The lawsuit, filed in December 2021, targeted developers of "Pokémon Monster Reissue," a mobile RPG accused of blatant copying of Pokémon characters, creatures, and gameplay mechanics.
The game, launched in 2015, featured striking similarities to the Pokémon franchise, including characters closely resembling Pikachu and Ash Ketchum, and gameplay mirroring the series' signature turn-based battles and creature collection. While the Pokémon Company doesn't claim exclusive rights to the monster-catching genre, they argued that "Pokémon Monster Reissue" went beyond inspiration and constituted outright plagiarism. Evidence presented included the game's app icon, advertisements, and gameplay footage showcasing numerous characters and Pokémon directly copied from the franchise.
Initially, The Pokémon Company sought $72.5 million in damages, a public apology, and a cease-and-desist order. While the final judgment was lower, the $15 million award serves as a strong deterrent against copyright infringement. Three of the six defendant companies are reportedly appealing the decision. The Pokémon Company reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its intellectual property, ensuring fans worldwide can enjoy Pokémon content without disruption.
Addressing past criticism regarding the company's stance on fan projects, a former Chief Legal Officer, Don McGowan, clarified that The Pokémon Company doesn't actively seek out fan works. Action is typically taken only when projects gain significant traction, such as through crowdfunding, or attract widespread media attention. While the company generally prefers to avoid legal action against fans, exceptions have been made for projects deemed to cross the line into infringement. This includes various fan-made games, tools, and videos.
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