Nintendo’s ongoing legal battle against Palworld developer Pocketpair may have just taken another serious hit. Following Japan’s earlier rejection of a key Pokémon-style gameplay patent, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has now taken the “rare” step of re-examining one of Nintendo’s already granted patents — a move that could undermine the company’s infringement case. The patent in question (No. 12,403,397), granted in September, covers mechanics for summoning a sub-character to fight enemies in a virtual field — a feature Nintendo argues is central to its Pokémon games. But USPTO director John A. Squires personally ordered a review after...
Published on: 11/5/2025
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