While Pals of Palworld Have No “Rights,” Pokemon Do: The Pokemon Company Ready To Take Legal Action of Possible IP Infringement

Since Palworld’s mindblowing blastoff into record-breaking territory with concurrent players and sales since its EA release, the game has had no small share of contentious controversies, especially regarding IP infringement of Pokemon. Go on Reddit, YouTube, X (Twitter), or any other widely-used social media sites, and you’re bound to find dozens, if not hundreds, of posts from Pokemon fans clamoring that Palworld is blatantly copying from the beloved pocket monster IP. The uproar caused by the fandom has gotten so serious that The Pokemon Company has addressed its concern for Palworld in an official statement.

The Pokemon Company’s Statement To Investigate “Other Companies’ Games,” AKA Palworld

In a public post on its official site called “Inquiries Regarding Other Companies’ Games,” The Pokemon Company issued a statement in both Japanese and English that clearly is aimed at the Palworld–Pokemon controversy. It reads,

We have received many inquiries regarding another company’s game released in January 2024. We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in that game. We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokémon. We will continue to cherish and nurture each and every Pokémon and its world, and work to bring the world together through Pokémon in the future.

The Pokemon Company

Now, I’ll admit: it’s hard not to take a jab at The Pokemon Company or Game Freak with how badly they’ve been handling the recent releases of the franchise, namely, Scarlet and Violet. But it’s well known that companies like Nintendo or The Pokemon Company do not take the violation of intellectual property lightly. We have seen dozens of Genshin Impact clones before Hoyoverse even bats an eye, while an established Japanese company will rain judgment upon those who dare “steal” from their IP.

Regardless of how much IP-infringement “evidence” Pokemon fans post to the internet about Palworld, only time will tell if The Pokemon Company’s investigation will discover anything of actual merit. Until then, keep slaving your cute Lamballs and Pengullets away in the coal mines as you enjoy a tasty Lamball Kebab at your base with a mountaintop view of the Palpagos Islands.