The former chief legal officer at Pokémon has commented on Nintendo’s new patent regarding character summons.
If you weren’t already aware, Nintendo has recently acquired two new patents, one of which has raised concerns in the industry, with many worried that this patent could impact numerous games in the process. The publishing lead at Larian Studios has already stated these kinds of patents are “often used in faith.” Now, the ex-Pokemon legal lead has weighed in.
Former Pokémon Lead Feels Developers Will Entirely Ignore Nintendo’s New Patent
As reported by Eurogamer, Don McGowan, the former chief legal officer at The Pokémon Company, has stated that Nintendo might struggle in enforcing the new patent. McGowan said, “I wish Nintendo and Pokémon good luck”, when they come across the first developer that chooses to ignore their new patent completely. Even if they wish to sue this developer, they will be able to show “decades of prior art.”
Richard Hoeg, a game industry lawyer, also spoke about the Nintendo patent in the report. Hoeg stated that the new patent reveals that Nintendo will “pursue a legal strategy in defending itself against entrants in the pocket monster genre.” However, the company’s new strategy might or might not be based on lawsuits, and the existence of the patent itself could be enough to “deter investment in and creation of competitors.”
In other news, Resident Evil Requiem is set to release for Nintendo Switch 2 in February 2025. Additionally, Pokémon Pokopia has been announced for the new console as well. What are your thoughts on the former Pokémon legal lead’s comments on the new Nintendo patent? Let us know through the official Insider Gaming forums discussion.
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