Nintendo filed a patent application (no. 2026-019762) for touchscreen devices using Pokémon-style monster capture and battle mechanics, aiming to protect gameplay similar to popular franchise elements [1, 2]. The Japan Patent Office (JPO) rejected the application on April 24, 2026, stating that the claims lacked an inventive step over existing prior art and described general monster-catching rules without any technological innovation [1, 2].
Nintendo amended the patent claims once in February 2026 but still failed to convince the JPO of the patent’s novelty. The company may pursue further amendments following the rejection [1, 2].
Since 2024, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have been engaged in legal efforts involving patents to prevent competition from the developer Pocketpair, which released the game Palworld in January 2024. The lawsuit argues that Pocketpair's game infringes on Nintendo's intellectual property rights [2].
Nintendo's recent patent attempts focus mainly on gameplay mechanics rather than character designs, possibly to sidestep complications related to parody law [2]. Their previous effort to patent summoning characters for battle was also rejected earlier by the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) [1].
The rejection from the JPO marks a setback for Nintendo's strategy to use patents to protect core gameplay elements. The company is expected to decide on additional amendments or further legal measures in response to the patent office’s decision.
