The Pokémon Company secures a significant victory in its copyright infringement lawsuit against Chinese companies. A Shenzhen court awarded the company $15 million in damages after a protracted legal battle. The lawsuit, filed in December 2021, targeted a mobile RPG, "Pokémon Monster Reissue," for its blatant copying of Pokémon characters, creatures, and gameplay mechanics.
The game, launched in 2015, featured strikingly similar characters to Pikachu and Ash Ketchum, mirroring the core turn-based combat and creature collection elements of the Pokémon franchise. While acknowledging the existence of many monster-catching games, The Pokémon Company argued that "Pokémon Monster Reissue" went beyond inspiration, constituting outright plagiarism. The app icon and advertisements further solidified this claim, featuring iconic characters without alteration.
The initial claim sought $72.5 million in damages, along with public apologies and a cessation of the game's development and promotion. While the final judgment was lower, the $15 million award serves as a strong deterrent against future copyright infringement. Three of the six sued companies reportedly plan to appeal. The Pokémon Company reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its intellectual property to ensure fans worldwide can enjoy Pokémon content without disruption.
Addressing past criticism regarding the takedown of fan projects, former Chief Legal Officer Don McGowan clarified the company's approach. He stated that The Pokémon Company doesn't proactively seek out fan projects but intervenes when projects gain significant traction, such as through funding campaigns. McGowan emphasized that the company typically learns of 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 viral videos. This highlights the complexities of balancing intellectual property protection with the encouragement of fan creativity.
