Intellectual Property
Ongoing coverage on Intellectual Property.
Latest coverage
Nintendo US patent on summoning characters to fight revoked in re-examination
The United States Patent Office has ordered a re-examination of a Nintendo patent related to summoning characters for combat. All claims within the patent have been rejected in a non-final office action.
U.S. patent examiner rejects Nintendos summoning characters patent as obvious: non-final ruling
A U.S. patent examiner has issued a non-final rejection of a Nintendo patent related to summoning characters. This decision is not final, and Nintendo has avenues for appeal, including to the Federal Circuit.
U.S. patent examiner rejects Nintendo’s summoning characters patent as obvious: non-final ruling
A U.S. patent examiner has issued a non-final ruling rejecting Nintendo's patent for summoning characters, deeming it obvious. Separately, Mark Gerhard, CEO of Build A Rocket Boy, discussed the company's move to self-publishing for their game MindsEye after ending a collaboration with IOI Partners.
US Patent Office rejects Nintendo's 'summon subcharacter and let it fight' patent
The United States Patent and Trademark Office has rejected Nintendo's patent for a 'summon subcharacter and let it fight' mechanic, citing prior art. Nintendo has two months to respond to the non-final decision. This comes as Nintendo and The Pokemon Company are already in litigation with Pocketpair over alleged patent infringements related to Palworld.
USPTO Has Rejected Nintendo’s “Summon-and-Battle” Patent For Being Too “Obvious”
The US Patent and Trademark Office has revoked a patent granted to Nintendo and The Pokémon Company concerning "summon-and-battle" mechanics, deeming it "obvious." This decision is non-final, allowing Nintendo two months to appeal or modify the application. The USPTO's re-examination cited prior art, including patents from Nintendo itself, Konami, and Bandai Namco, and is part of Nintendo's broader legal strategy, particularly concerning Palworld.
Nintendo's 'Summon Character To Fight' Patent Rejected By US Patent Office
The US Patent Office has rejected Nintendo's patent for a 'summon character to fight' mechanic, a move that could impact its legal disputes with Palworld. The patent was revoked based on prior art, including patents from Konami and Bandai Namco, though Nintendo has a chance to respond. This decision comes after a rare re-examination order from the USPTO director.
Nintendo's legal fight with Palworld suffers a reversal as the USPTO reject their patent on character-summoning battle mechanics
The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a non-final rejection of Nintendo's patent for character-summoning battle mechanics, a decision that could impact the ongoing legal dispute with Palworld developer Pocketpair. While Nintendo has two months to respond, this ruling suggests the patent may not be as strong as initially believed, potentially affecting other games that utilize similar mechanics.
Nintendo's Pokemon battling claim is too "obvious" to stand, US patent office says as it revokes the application, but the door's open for the publisher to fight back
The US Patent and Trademark Office has revoked a patent held by Nintendo and The Pokemon Company for summoning creatures to battle, deeming it too obvious. This decision is non-final, allowing Nintendo to appeal. This patent is separate from the ongoing legal case against Palworld developer Pocketpair concerning creature capturing and riding features.
Starfield hits PS5 preorders: Elder Scrolls vibes incom... | TAG
Starfield is now available for preorder on PlayStation 5, with its release set for April 7, offering Standard and Premium editions. Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2 has received a patch that nerfs the blue shell's frequency and speed. Aspyr has released a patch for Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered to address questionable outfit textures after fan criticism.
Miyamoto Expected "Significant Resistance Internally" To Fox In The Mario Galaxy Movie
Shigeru Miyamoto discussed the inclusion of Star Fox in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, noting that Nintendo typically avoids mixing intellectual properties. Despite initial internal resistance, Miyamoto and Illumination's Chris Meledandri successfully lobbied for the cameo, with actors Glen Powell and Donald Glover also playing roles in the film's development.
USPTO Rejects Nintendo's Controversial 'Summon Character and Let It Fight' Pokémon Patent in Non-Final Ruling, as Palworld Legal Battle Rumbles On
The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued a non-final rejection of Nintendo's patent for 'summon character and let it fight,' a system heavily associated with Pokémon. This ruling comes as legal battles surrounding the game Palworld continue.
The Incredible And Unlikely Story Of How Glen Powell Became Fox In The Super Mario Galaxy Movie
Nintendo broke its own rules about mixing intellectual properties to include Fox McCloud in The Super Mario Galaxy Movie, a decision spearheaded by Illumination CEO Chris Meledandri and approved by Shigeru Miyamoto. Actor Glen Powell had independently pitched himself for a Star Fox movie, unaware of the plans, and was ultimately cast as Fox in the Super Mario Galaxy Movie. Donald Glover also proactively sought a role, leading to his casting as Yoshi.
Disney Might Want to Acquire Epic Games – Rumor
A report suggests that Disney executives are interested in acquiring Epic Games, though internal opinions are divided. While potential integrations of intellectual properties and park experiences are discussed, Epic's ongoing legal battles and founder Tim Sweeney's control present obstacles. Financial difficulties at Epic, including recent layoffs, could also influence future acquisition talks, especially as they compete with Roblox in the creator-first ecosystem.
Gran Turismo Copycat Forced to Change Its Name for Release on PS5, PS4
A game initially named Gran Carismo, which closely resembled Sony's Gran Turismo series, has been forced to change its title to Grand Car Racing on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. The game, also available on PC and Nintendo Switch under its original name, faced legal pressure from Sony to alter its title due to concerns about misleading consumers and the proliferation of shovelware on digital storefronts.
In Its Crackdown on PS Store's Garbage PS5 Games, Surely Sony Won't Let Gran Carismo Through
Sony is actively removing thousands of low-quality games from the PlayStation Store to improve quality. The article highlights "Gran Carismo" as an example of a game with a title intentionally similar to the popular "Gran Turismo" series, questioning if it will be allowed on the PlayStation 5 despite its presence on Steam and Nintendo Switch.
Marathon Review - Actions Have Consequences | Game Informer
This review of Marathon discusses the game's marketing and intellectual property. The author argues that all marketing is a form of pandering and questions the claim that the IP has been hijacked, noting the same developer still owns it. The piece expresses hope for the game's survival despite a perceived year-and-a-half-long hate campaign.
OpenAI discontinues Sora video generation app, Disney pulls out of $1 billion investment deal
OpenAI is discontinuing its Sora video generation app and related developer tools, shifting focus to productivity applications like a desktop 'superapp'. This decision follows concerns over copyright issues and a reported $1 billion investment deal with Disney that has now been canceled. The company plans to share details on preserving user work and API timelines soon.
Dead by Daylight maker Behaviour has bought the studio behind 7 Days to Die to create "a portfolio of horror IP"
Behaviour Interactive, the developer of Dead by Daylight, has acquired The Fun Pimps, the studio behind 7 Days to Die. This acquisition aims to build a portfolio of horror intellectual property, leveraging the success of both companies' existing horror titles. The deal is expected to enhance development and marketing for 7 Days to Die while supporting The Fun Pimps' long-term vision.
Tencent's genAI animation tools don't seem to make games more fun
Tencent's new generative AI animation tools, demonstrated at GDC, aim to create more realistic character movements by dynamically generating in-between frames. While the technology can reduce animation imperfections like clipping and sliding, the article questions whether these improvements fundamentally enhance gameplay fun or are primarily for investor appeal. Concerns are also raised about the ethical implications of training data and fair compensation for performers whose movements are used.
Disney Gaming Boss On "Massive Disruption" In Games And What's Coming Next
Disney's Executive Vice President of Global Games & Digital Entertainment, Sean Shoptaw, discussed the company's strategy amidst significant market disruption. Disney aims for its games to be as prominent as its film and TV businesses, focusing on original stories within its IPs rather than licensed tie-ins. The company sees games like Fortnite and Roblox as massive social platforms and is investing in the Fortnite metaverse with Epic Games, exploring ways to connect digital experiences with its theme parks.
