The Pokémon Company successfully defended its intellectual property in a copyright lawsuit against Chinese companies that copied Pokémon characters, winning a $15 million judgment.

Pokémon Company Wins Major Copyright Case

The Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court ruled in favor of The Pokémon Company, awarding them $15 million in damages. This follows a lawsuit filed in December 2021 against several Chinese companies for creating the mobile RPG "Pokémon Monster Reissue," which heavily copied Pokémon characters, creatures, and gameplay mechanics.

The game, launched in 2015, featured blatant imitations of Pikachu, Ash Ketchum, and other iconic Pokémon. The app icon even used Pikachu artwork from Pokémon Yellow. Advertisements showcased Ash, Oshawott, Pikachu, and Tepig, and gameplay footage revealed characters like Rosa from Black and White 2 and Charmander. While the core monster-catching concept isn't unique to Pokémon, the court determined that "Pokémon Monster Reissue" went beyond inspiration and constituted plagiarism.

Initially, The Pokémon Company sought $72.5 million in damages, a public apology, and a halt to the game's development and distribution. While the final award was lower, the $15 million judgment serves as a strong deterrent against future copyright infringement. Three of the six sued companies have reportedly filed appeals.

The Pokémon Company stated they will continue protecting their intellectual property to ensure fans worldwide can enjoy Pokémon content without disruption.

Balancing IP Protection and Fan Creativity

The Pokémon Company has faced criticism for addressing fan projects in the past. Former Chief Legal Officer Don McGowan clarified that the company doesn't actively seek out fan projects for takedowns. Action is primarily taken when projects gain significant traction, such as through funding campaigns. McGowan stated, "You don’t send a takedown right away...If they get funded then that’s when you engage. No one likes suing fans."

The company typically learns of fan projects through media or personal discovery. However, takedown notices have been issued for projects with minimal reach, including fan-made tools, games like Pokémon Uranium, and viral videos featuring fan-made content. This highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing intellectual property rights with fan-created content.