Well this could be about to get interesting, as The Pokémon Company have actually released a statement in regards to all the speculation about Palworld amid many claims of copying Pokémon's homework.
So far, there's no really solid proof that I can see of any actual direct copying (or of any AI use that people keep claiming too). There's a good few similarities to a few Pokémon, but lots of the examples people keep sharing around don't have me overly convinced.
Here's what The Pokémon Company said (source):
Inquiries Regarding Other Companies’ Games
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 Pokémon Company
They didn't name Palworld directly, likely as that might put them in hot water if nothing comes of it.
Really, this reads a bit like a "please stop emailing us" statement. It was obvious they were going to look into it. Nintendo and The Pokémon Company are notoriously tough on taking action and they already started wiping traces of a Pokémon mod for Palworld. Even Nexus Mods have said they will not be hosting any such mods.
Again, they cannot take action just because it's a game that has monster catching in it. Pokémon don't own that idea, they can't. They could only take action for actual plagiarism. And as a whole, Palworld is actually objectively a very different game to anything Pokémon has put out.
In other news, Palworld crossed 8 million copies sold now.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
TheRiddick Jan 25
Quoting: Talon1024There is already clear-cut solid evidence of plaigiarism on the part of Pocketpair.
You seem to fail to even listen to what anyone is saying. Simply making something very similar is NOT illegal or grounds for massive legal pursuits, especially when those concepts were taken from games/media before it!
You are basically saying the idea of these models is OWNED by Nintendo/Pokemon, but they really aren't, and if they won a case on that basis, it would send shock-waves throughout the gaming industry because it would open a legal pandora's box.
In case its not blunt enough. You can't sue based on similarities to works of arts you stole the ideas from other games/media!
The people continuing to ignore this obvious fact or listen to reasoning have clear bias motive in play.
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pleasereadthemanual Jan 25
Quoting: TheRiddickOut of curiosity, do you have an opinion on Tanya Grotter?Quoting: Talon1024There is already clear-cut solid evidence of plaigiarism on the part of Pocketpair.
You seem to fail to even listen to what anyone is saying. Simply making something very similar is NOT illegal or grounds for massive legal pursuits, especially when those concepts were taken from games/media before it!
You are basically saying the idea of these models is OWNED by Nintendo/Pokemon, but they really aren't, and if they won a case on that basis, it would send shock-waves throughout the gaming industry because it would open a legal pandora's box.
In case its not blunt enough. You can't sue based on similarities to works of arts you stole the ideas from other games/media!
The people continuing to ignore this obvious fact or listen to reasoning have clear bias motive in play.
2 Likes, Who?
TheRiddick Jan 25
Quoting: pleasereadthemanualOut of curiosity, do you have an opinion on Tanya Grotter?
Yeah I don't know how original the Harry Potter books were or if they took ideas from other media (likely).
But those similarities seem mostly fine to me. It's very obvious Tanya is inspired by Harry Potter book series, almost in a mocking sort of way, lol (is it a parody?)
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pleasereadthemanual Jan 25
Quoting: TheRiddickThey tried to argue it was a parody (unsuccessfully, apparently). I don't know if it ever went to court, but JK Rowling and Warner certainly scared them enough. More details further up the Wikipedia page.Quoting: pleasereadthemanualOut of curiosity, do you have an opinion on Tanya Grotter?
Yeah I don't know how original the Harry Potter books were or if they took ideas from other media (likely).
But those similarities seem mostly fine to me. It's very obvious Tanya is inspired by Harry Potter book series, almost in a mocking sort of way, lol (is it a parody?)
My personal belief is that this is not enough to constitute a derivative work...but I'm not sure how the courts saw it.
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ExpandingMan Jan 25
Oh no! Somebody else is making money! We can't have that because we are the only very special geniuses who can make games with pets or cartoony yellow mice! 
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TheRiddick Jan 25
Quoting: pleasereadthemanualMy personal belief is that this is not enough to constitute a derivative work...but I'm not sure how the courts saw it.
It's very hard to judge without actually reading through those two books and comparing it in it's full context rather then nit picking out similarities and base opinion on that.
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ElamanOpiskelija Jan 25
I see the similarities and to me Palworld clearly looks like a parody. But, is it such a problem that all these people are having fun?
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Mountain Man Jan 25
Quoting: Talon1024There is already clear-cut solid evidence of plaigiarism on the part of Pocketpair.Those examples are pretty conclusive. It's the 3D modeling equivalent of copying a paragraph, changing a few words, and then passing it off as your own work. I suspect, at the very least, the Pal World developers will be forced to remove those critters from the game.
But since they made so much money from Palworld, one would hope they would use it to hire on a few more artists so that the Pokemon ripoff designs can be replaced with less infringing designs and models.
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Quoting: ElamanOpiskelijaI see the similarities and to me Palworld clearly looks like a parody. But, is it such a problem that all these people are having fun?
It is, because it's not Nintendo the one making money from it.
And this is extremely bad for both Nintendo and its fanatics.
Since I want to watch the word burn, I'll say that I hope Nintendo sues and wins so Palworld has to close and a massive internet war starts against Nintendo and its fanatics that takes them to the absolute oblivion.
But the world is not made for happy endings so this won't happen.
Instead, Nintendo will try to scare them, Palworld devs will say they don't give a crap, Nintendo will see they can't win this fight so they won't sue, and their fans will be left frothing in the mouth.
Can't wait for that to happen.
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QuoteIn other news, Palworld crossed 8 million copies sold now.It's great to see that a game that the market has wanted for a long time is doing so well!
Quoting: HermesWell, the overall style of most pals is something that derives heavily from pokémon. I think that's the issue, more than the game itself. Some Pals are flagrant Pokemon copies. It's not about the game per se being a copy of Pokémon. It's about the pals being pokémon copies.
Quoting: KlausBut the three listed above are too close for Nintendo not to sue. Not about the gameplay, but about the specific designs.I've posted these before, but, take a look at them;
Bomberman Max (1999)
Keitai Denjuu Telefang (2000)
Robopon (1998)
No action was ever taken about any of these (and there are plenty more games I could've named besides), and as you can see some of them are almost-identical in design (hell, one of them, from Robopon, is literally just two non-Pokemon characters glued together - it's on the bottom row, it's literally Kirby with Pac-Man sitting on his head). There are plenty of elements about Pokemon that actually aren't as copyrightable as certain parties would want you to believe.
Quoting: mindedie- ogre in full tiger suit? stylized golem?Electabuzz bears a bit of resemblance to some depictions of oni and yetis, as well.
Quoting: eldakingI personally think it is fine, but I have seen people comparing the 3d meshes and they look way closer - with textures it is clearly distinct, but I don't know if the meshes being too similar might be infringement?
Quoting: Talon1024There is already clear-cut solid evidence of plaigiarism on the part of Pocketpair.
But since they made so much money from Palworld, one would hope they would use it to hire on a few more artists so that the Pokemon ripoff designs can be replaced with less infringing designs and models.
Quoting: Mountain ManThose examples are pretty conclusive. It's the 3D modeling equivalent of copying a paragraph, changing a few words, and then passing it off as your own work. I suspect, at the very least, the Pal World developers will be forced to remove those critters from the game.It's worth pointing out that the person who did those comparisons has since admitted that they tweaked the models to make them fit together, and then backpedalled, claiming they falsified these examples of the meshes being identical because they feel that Palworld glorifies animal-abuse.
Quoting: ElamanOpiskelijaI see the similarities and to me Palworld clearly looks like a parody. But, is it such a problem that all these people are having fun?
Quoting: BelaptirIt is, because it's not Nintendo the one making money from it.There is some worryingly cult-like behaviour out there regarding Nintendo. I'm a former fan myself, but never fitted in with the fandom because when the company got things wrong, I took issue with it and shared opinions on how they could improve, as any sane person would. That gets you run out of town in those circles!
And this is extremely bad for both Nintendo and its fanatics.
Last edited by Pengling on 25 January 2024 at 7:20 pm UTC
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