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Nintendo Obtains New Anti-Palworld Patent and Seeks Even More

gamerant.com

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Re: Nintendo Obtains New Anti-Palworld Patent and Seeks Even More

#21

Post by MiddleEndian »

torlok wrote: post #15

Looks like this patent is for capturing a virtual creature with a throwable item. The whole concept is obviously comical, but for additional laughs, this is an opportunity to check out how software patents are written. To quote: > A non-limiting example of a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein a game program of the present non-limiting example is executed by a computer of an informat…

>Looks like this patent is for capturing a virtual creature with a throwable item.

Pokemon came out 29 years ago. Even if you recognize this patent it should be expired rather than slightly tweaked and then extended.

Thanks for the reminder to buy Palworld, Nintendo!

Re: Nintendo Obtains New Anti-Palworld Patent and Seeks Even More

#24

Post by TeaBrain »

LordKeren wrote: post #16
abc-1 wrote: post #8

This is a sign of the beginning of the end for them. When you’re rotten to the core you do things like this instead of actually innovating and creating new great products. It doesn’t end well long term.

No, not even close. Nintendo is not a VC funded startup fighting for their survival. The Nintendo switch 2 is right around the corner and looks like it is going to sell extremely well, after the massive success of the switch 1 Patents are not that expensive to file. They are not diverting any meaningful amount of cash flow to this. This is a side activity of a few employees

I highly doubt this was just filed as a side project of some developers. They probably have patent lawyers on staff or on retainer whom someone in the organization requested to file this. Especially since this seems related to the legal action they started against Palworld in 2024.

Re: Nintendo Obtains New Anti-Palworld Patent and Seeks Even More

#25

Post by kbolino »

dylan604 wrote: post #5
kevincox wrote: post #3

Isn't this impossible because you can't get a patent if there is prior art? So they shouldn't be able to use a patent against a video game that came out before the patent was filed right?

The prior art restrictions are no longer in place, and the system has become first to file. The America Invents Act changed to the first to file from first to invent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leahy%E2%80%93Smith_America_In...

This is only half true. Yes, the country switched to first-to-file, but the definition of prior art was expanded. This means it's easier to strike down a patent due to prior art now than before.

Re: Nintendo Obtains New Anti-Palworld Patent and Seeks Even More

#26

Post by IcyWindows »

dylan604 wrote: post #5
kevincox wrote: post #3

Isn't this impossible because you can't get a patent if there is prior art? So they shouldn't be able to use a patent against a video game that came out before the patent was filed right?

The prior art restrictions are no longer in place, and the system has become first to file. The America Invents Act changed to the first to file from first to invent https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leahy%E2%80%93Smith_America_In...

Your link shows that prior art is still a thing.

Re: Nintendo Obtains New Anti-Palworld Patent and Seeks Even More

#27

Post by 29athrowaway »

Pokemon is absurdly overpriced. Like $70 on Nintendo Switch. And the gameplay is literally the same as Gameboy games from decades ago, with better graphics (that could be rendered on a Gamecube).

No voice acting for dialogues, a tiny sound track, most content is text... no way to explain $70.

If people want to buy something else then good.

Re: Nintendo Obtains New Anti-Palworld Patent and Seeks Even More

#28

Post by celdon25 »

gamedever wrote: post #17

Blame the government. You shouldn't be allowed to patent game mechanics IMO. Nitnendo has (had) a patent on ghost cars (showing a ghost of your former performance in Mario Kart) Sega has (had) a patent on zooming between camera positions from Virtua Racing 1 Wizards of the Coast has a patent on card games similar to Magic the Gathering. I don't know what their actual patent is but I do know lots of companies paid the…

> Blame the government. You shouldn't be allowed to patent game mechanics IMO.

Much of the current patent laws are international law regulated by the WTO. Our current agreement was signed by Clinton.

I think it needs an overhaul. Cut the strict 20 year expiration time in half at least, and implement other reforms as needed. Delegate more regulatory authority to nations and maybe more or less depending on industry or application. Patents should also require that you use it or lose it.

Re: Nintendo Obtains New Anti-Palworld Patent and Seeks Even More

#29

Post by hombre_fatal »

29athrowaway wrote: post #27

Pokemon is absurdly overpriced. Like $70 on Nintendo Switch. And the gameplay is literally the same as Gameboy games from decades ago, with better graphics (that could be rendered on a Gamecube). No voice acting for dialogues, a tiny sound track, most content is text... no way to explain $70. If people want to buy something else then good.

This doesn’t check out.

Pokémon Red was $30 in 1996 which is $62 in today’s dollars.

If you just mean there are other games you’d rather spend $70 on, well, that’s not much of a proposition.

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