The Pokémon Company has triumphed in a legal fight to protect its intellectual property from Chinese firms accused of replicating its iconic Pokémon characters.

The Pokémon Company Prevails in Copyright Infringement Case

Chinese Firms Penalized for Mimicking Pokémon Characters

The Pokémon Company has won a significant lawsuit against multiple Chinese companies charged with copyright violations and intellectual property theft, securing $15 million in damages after a prolonged legal dispute. Initiated in December 2021, the lawsuit targeted developers of a game that closely imitated Pokémon characters, creatures, and core gameplay elements.

The issue surfaced in 2015 with the release of "Pokémon Monster Reissue," a mobile RPG bearing striking similarities to the Pokémon franchise. The game featured characters resembling Pikachu and Ash Ketchum, with gameplay echoing Pokémon’s signature turn-based battles and creature-collecting mechanics. While The Pokémon Company does not claim ownership of the monster-catching genre, it argued that Pocket Monster Reissue went beyond inspiration, committing outright plagiarism.

For example, the game’s app icon replicated Pikachu artwork from Pokémon Yellow’s cover. Its advertisements prominently showcased Ash Ketchum, Oshawott, Pikachu, and Tepig without alterations. Online gameplay footage also revealed familiar characters, including Rosa from Pokémon Black and White 2, alongside Charmander.

The lawsuit gained attention in September 2022, when The Pokémon Company sought $72.5 million in damages and a public apology across major Chinese websites and social media. It also demanded an immediate stop to the game’s development, distribution, and promotion.

Following an extended legal battle, the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court ruled in favor of The Pokémon Company yesterday. Although the $15 million award was less than the initial $72.5 million claim, it underscores a firm warning to developers exploiting established franchises. Three of the six sued companies have reportedly appealed the decision.

According to a translated statement from GameBiz, The Pokémon Company reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding its intellectual property, ensuring fans worldwide can enjoy Pokémon content with confidence.

‘We Don’t Target Fans,’ Says Former Pokémon Company Legal Chief

The Pokémon Company has faced backlash for halting fan projects in the past. In a March interview with Aftermath, former Chief Legal Officer Don McGowan clarified that, during his time, the company did not actively pursue fan projects for termination. Instead, it intervened only when projects crossed specific boundaries.

“We don’t issue takedowns immediately,” McGowan explained. “We monitor projects, like those on Kickstarter, and act if they gain funding. Nobody enjoys suing fans.”

McGowan noted that the company’s legal team typically learns of fan projects through media reports or personal discovery. He likened this to his entertainment law classes, where he warns students that media exposure can unintentionally draw the company’s attention to their work.

Despite this policy, The Pokémon Company has issued takedown notices for fan projects with minimal traction, including fan-made creation tools, games like Pokémon Uranium, and even viral videos featuring fan-created Pokémon hunting FPS games.