GTA 5 Mod Could Bolster Palworld Developer's Defense Against Nintendo Patent Claims

In the ongoing legal battle between Palworld and Nintendo, an unexpected ally may emerge for the Palworld developer, Pocketpair. An eight-year-old modification for GTA 5 could play a significant role in their defense strategy against Nintendo's claims.

According to insights from a Japanese patent expert, this mod might provide substantial support against one of three patents Nintendo has accused Pocketpair of violating. This information was shared by the Nikkei Business Online Edition, which highlighted the remarks from the patent expert at Siarasia. Earlier this month, Pocketpair made public the specific financial demands from Nintendo along with the patents in question, which aligned with predictions from various legal professionals.

Nintendo, alongside the Pokemon Company, recently introduced three new divisional patents, which are essentially smaller extensions of existing patents, in response to the early access release of Palworld. One of these patents pertains to the method of capturing creatures by throwing a ball, and here is where the GTA 5 mod becomes relevant.

The mentioned mod, which surfaced in 2016, incorporates a capturing mechanic reminiscent of throwing a Poke Ball-like item at a character to capture it. Although the specific name of the mod is not provided, it is believed to be inspired by the popular Pokémon GO concept.

Why does this connection matter? The GTA 5 modification showcases a capturing sequence akin to what is outlined in one of Nintendo's divisional patents, significantly preceding both that and the broader parent patent filed in December 2021. This potentially positions the GTA 5 mod as a legal precedent that may influence court decisions regarding the validity of Nintendo's claims.

While experts anticipate that this legal dispute could linger, and additional patent infringement allegations remain a concern, the road ahead appears filled with uncertainties. However, despite the legal challenges, Palworld emerged strongly, achieving a top position on Japan's PS5 sales charts, even surpassing titles such as Dragon Ball: Sparking Zero and Metaphor: ReFantazio.