Pokémon Company To Investigate Palworld Over Copyright Concerns
The Pokémon Company has announced its intention to investigate potential copyright infringement in the wildly popular game, Palworld, which has sold over 8 million copies since its early access release on January 18, 2024.
Developed by PocketPair, the survival adventure game has gained fame as "PPokémon with guns," raising concerns over similarities with the iconic Pokémon series. The game features players known as “Pal-tamers”, who can capture creatures known as “pals” and battle others. Despite receiving praise for its gameplay, Palworld has sparked controversy and accusations of copying Pokémon's intellectual property.
The Pokémon Company has issued a statement addressing the situation, saying, "We have received many inquiries regarding another company’s game released in January 2024. We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in that game. 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."
The Pokémon Company's announcement does not directly name Palworld but references "another company's game released in January 2024.” and has emphasised its commitment to protecting its intellectual property.
Responding to the growing debate, PocketPair CEO Takuro Mizobe revealed concerns about the comments and tweets received in a statement on X earlier this week, saying, "We have received libellous comments about our artists and some tweets that seem close to death threats."
Meanwhile, Palworld's unexpected success, with 8 million copies sold in early access, has led to the acknowledgment by the Palworld development team that the game's popularity has "exceeded expectations." Despite server crashes, the game has garnered a "very positive" user rating on Steam, and efforts are underway to address issues caused by the overwhelming interest in the game.
