The Pokémon Company reaches settlement in China over Pocket Monster: Remake lawsuit

by

Story Highlights

  • Pocket Monster: Remake was a turn-based RPG that blatantly copied the Pokémon franchise, including various characters and features.
  • The two Chinese companies issued an apology and pledged to avoid infringing on any related intellectual property in the future.
  • They have paid a substantial economic price to The Pokémon Company, and the game has been discontinued and removed from the market.

The Pokemon Corporation has disclosed that they’ve resolved a copyright breach dispute over the mobile game “Pocket Monster: Remake” or “The Pocket Journey,” which is known for imitating the Pokemon series, through mediation. The operators of this app, Guangzhou Maichi Network Technology Co., Ltd and its affiliate, Khorgos Fangchi Network Technology, have also extended an apology for their actions.

The Pokémon Company and the creators of Pocket Monster: Remake have finally reached an agreement

The Game Redo of Pocket Monsters was a role-playing game where turns are taken, which mimicked the Pokemon series without introducing any original elements, showcasing famous characters such as Ash Ketchum and Pikachu, among others, together with other distinctive traits. Launched in 2015, this game earned an impressive $42 million in a single year’s time.

In December 2021, The Pokémon Company took legal action against a game that was considered a copycat at the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court, located in Guangdong Province. They demanded compensation of approximately ¥500 million ($72 million) and requested public apologies from the two Chinese companies involved, due to copyright infringement.

In September 2024, they successfully won the case, and the court mandated that the Chinese corporations pay approximately ¥107 million (equivalent to $14.7 million). Yet, these companies contested this decision, resulting in a subsequent trial. As per Automaton’s report, on December 18, 2024, another hearing took place under the guidance of the High People’s Court of Guangdong Province. Eventually, through mediation, Pokémon Company and these two companies arrived at a settlement agreement.

The two Chinese companies have issued an apology and further discontinued the game

They apologized for utilizing extensive design aspects similar to the popular Pokémon Video Game Series, admitting that their actions constituted copyright infringement and unjust competition, leading to substantial financial damages for the rightful owners.

Despite not revealing the specific compensation figure, the two companies acknowledged they’ve faced a hefty financial burden and suffered a hit to their reputation. Consequently, they ceased production of the game and withdrew it from digital marketplaces.

Read More

2025-02-22 15:11