Pokémon Clone Sued for $15M in Copyright Case

The Pokémon Company secures a significant victory in a copyright infringement lawsuit against Chinese companies, winning $15 million in damages. The lawsuit, filed in December 2021, targeted the developers of "Pokémon Monster Reissue," a mobile RPG accused of blatantly copying Pokémon characters, creatures, and core gameplay mechanics.

The game, launched in 2015, featured striking similarities to the Pokémon franchise, including characters closely resembling Pikachu and Ash Ketchum, and gameplay mirroring the series' signature turn-based battles and creature collection. While acknowledging the existence of many monster-catching games inspired by Pokémon, The Pokémon Company argued that "Pokémon Monster Reissue" crossed the line into outright plagiarism. The app icon itself used Pikachu artwork from Pokémon Yellow, and advertisements prominently featured Ash Ketchum, Oshawott, Pikachu, and Tepig. Gameplay footage further revealed the presence of characters like Rosa from Black and White 2 and Charmander.

Initially seeking $72.5 million in damages, along with a public apology and cessation of the game's development and distribution, The Pokémon Company ultimately secured a $15 million judgment from the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court. Three of the six sued companies have reportedly filed appeals. The Pokémon Company affirmed its commitment to protecting its intellectual property to ensure fans worldwide can enjoy Pokémon content without disruption.

Addressing past criticism regarding the company's stance on fan projects, former Chief Legal Officer Don McGowan clarified that The Pokémon Company doesn't actively seek out fan projects for takedowns. Action is typically taken only when projects gain significant traction, such as through funding campaigns. McGowan stated that the company generally learns of fan projects through media or personal discovery, highlighting that publicity can inadvertently bring projects to their attention. However, the company has issued takedown notices for projects with even minor success, including fan-made tools, games like Pokémon Uranium, and viral videos.