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Japan Patent Office Rejects Nintendo’s Monster-Capture Patents

7/23/2026

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Summary

Story summary

The Japan Patent Office rejected Nintendo Co., Ltd.’s patent No. 2026-019762 for a monster-capture mechanic in its Palworld suit.
It also rejected application 2024-031879, finding no inventive step over ARK and Pokémon GO.
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company may petition the JPO for a trial within three months.
The rejections leave two previously granted patents still asserted in the Tokyo District Court against Pocketpair unchanged.

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Story summary

The Japan Patent Office rejected Nintendo Co., Ltd.’s patent No. 2026-019762 for a monster-capture mechanic in its Palworld suit.
It also rejected application 2024-031879, finding no inventive step over ARK and Pokémon GO.
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company may petition the JPO for a trial within three months.
The rejections leave two previously granted patents still asserted in the Tokyo District Court against Pocketpair unchanged.