GTA 5 mod could help Palworld with its Nintendo lawsuits

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Key things

  • GTA 5 Mod May Help Palworld Fight Nintendo's Patent Infringement Lawsuits
  • Nintendo is targeting Palworld for alleged patent infringement related to the grabbing, aiming and driving mechanics.
  • Palworld's success may be affected by the outcome of the ¥10 million lawsuits and injunction in Japan.



Palworld can have a Grand Theft Auto 5 modder to thank because their mod might help eventually Palworld to fight Nintendo's lawsuits. A surprising piece Palworld-related information comes from a lawyer well versed in Japanese patent law.

Palworld made huge waves when it entered the gaming scene, with many fans flocking to the title to experience a unique experience that was often dubbed “Pokemon with guns.” While many felt there were similarities between the two Palworld and PokemonThe Pokemon Company and Nintendo have remained relatively quiet about the game until recently, especially when it comes to design and game mechanics. Now, Palworld faces lawsuits from Nintendo based on three unique patents.


Palworld Flying and Pal

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One of the patents Palworld is being sued due to the catching mechanisms present in the game. Players capture pals using Pal orbs that are thrown at a target and capture them. The mechanic allegedly violates Nintendo's “killer” patent no. 7545191, which covers the act of throwing a captured object; in this case Pal Sphere or Poke Ball. However, according to Nikkei Business (via Automaton), Japanese patent attorney Ryo Arashida said that the game mod that preceded it Palworld within eight years uses similar mechanics and thus may invalidate Nintendo's patent.


Did GTA 5 Mod Save Palworld?

Although not directly named, the timing of the mod's release and its description suggest that it is most likely an oa Pokemon Go– thematic GTA 5 mod that came out back in 2016. Most notably, the current patent 7545191 that Nintendo is using in its lawsuit is linked to a “mother patent” that was registered in 2021. In other words, the mod predates both patents, potentially makes a legal challenge against Palworld questionable.


However, the above-mentioned patent is only one of Palworldproblems. Nintendo also called Palworld with its patents 7493117 and 7528390. Patent 7493117 is tied to in-game aiming, while 7528390 focuses on mounted characters. It is unclear at this time if there are similar cases that could ultimately help Palworld with these two patents.

What will happen in the end Palworld will see each other. The lawsuits seek a total of ¥10 million, or roughly $65,000, from Pocketpair, plus damages for late payments. While it might sting, that number alone would hardly spell the end of the game for the developer. However, Nintendo also wants an injunction that would mean Palworld could no longer be sold in Japan. This could have a much bigger impact on the game and the company, although if it only affected the Japanese market, Pocketpair could probably still recover.

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