Nintendo's monster-catching patent rejected: impact on gaming and players
Intelligence Summary
- Discover the impact of Nintendo's monster-catching patent rejection by the Japan Patent Office and what it means for gaming.
In short
- The Japan Patent Office has rejected Nintendo's patent application for a monster-catching system.
- The rejection was based on a 2013 Pokémon fan project cited as prior art.
- Nintendo's claims were rejected because they were deemed non-inventive.
GAME-scanner analysis
The recent rejection of Nintendo's patent application (number 2026-019762) by the Japan Patent Office is a significant setback for the company, especially in light of its ongoing lawsuit against Pocketpair. The rejection was mainly justified by citing a fan project, Pokémon Generations, released in 2013. This highlights the challenges major companies face when protecting their intellectual property, especially when it comes to concepts that have already been explored within the gaming community.
Nintendo had hoped that its touchscreen-based monster-catching system would be unique enough to warrant a patent, but the conclusion that there was no inventive step could undermine its strategy for protecting innovations. This may also have consequences for its lawsuit against Pocketpair, which focuses on similar gameplay elements.
What does this mean for players?
For gamers, this development can be both positive and negative. On the one hand, it could open the door to more creative and innovative monster-catching games, since developers may now feel less worried about legal repercussions from Nintendo. On the other hand, it could also mean Nintendo may be less inclined to invest in new monster-catching concepts, which could affect the diversity of future games.
Timeline
2026-04: Nintendo files a patent application for a monster-catching system.
2026-07-16: The Japan Patent Office rejects the patent application, citing a 2013 fan project as prior art.