The Pokemon Company has decided to officially sue six Chinese mobile gaming companies for copyright infringement. They are suing the companies due to the striking resemblance between their game and the company's IP.
The Pokemon Company Launches a Lawsuit Against Six Chinese Mobile Gaming Companies
According to the story by Digital Trends, the Pokemon Company is issuing a lawsuit against six different Chinese mobile gaming companies. The lawsuit focus on copyright infringement and unfair competition over the title "Pocket Monster Reissue," which is a game that holds a "striking resemblance to the popular IP.
It was reported in the South China Morning Post that The Pokemon Company decided to file an order to the Shenzen Intermediate People's Court in order for the companies to stop not just the development but also the sale of "Pocket Monster Reissue" on the mobile storefronts in mainland China.
Company is Asking for $72.5 Million in Damages from the Unauthorized Operation of the Popular Game
The mobile storefronts also include those that are being run by Huawei, Tencent, and Xiaomi. The company is asking for $72.5 million in damages or 500 million yuan which reportedly resulted from the unauthorized operation of the popular game.
One of the accused companies, Jiangyin Zhongnan Heavy Industries, announced during its stock exchange filing that it had been running the game, "Pocket Monster Reissue," even without gaining express permission coming from The Pokemon Company despite it being released back in 2015.
Game Generated $43.3 Million in Total Turnover
The game was reportedly able to generate 300 million yuan of total turnover, which resulted in about $43.4 million, with a monthly turnover that reportedly exceeded 30 million yuan or $4.3 million in 2016.
Just five years later, the revenue of the company has reportedly skyrocketed, reaching 481.6 million yuan or about $69.7 million with a market cap of 6.1 billion yuan or about $883 million. As per Zhongnan, it was impossible to be able to judge the impact "on the current or future profits of the company" since the case had not yet made its way to court.
Read Also: McDonald's Singapore Ad Mistakes Pokemon Scarlet and Violet as Two Separate Games
Company Demanded that the Game be Taken Down and an Apology be Issued
Despite this, The Pokemon Company is still demanding that the company, along with five others, take the game down and "issue apologies to players on the mobile store and popular Chinese websites," which include both NetEase.com and Tencent.com.
Despite The Pokemon Company having licenses in numerous countries, censorship laws, as well as vague regulations, have made it hard for the games to be distributed in China. In 2017, Pokemon Go was even banned for safety reasons, but after Niantic partnered with NetEase, the ban was lifted a year later.
The article by Digital Trends notes that any other bands that have happened in the past with Pokemon games could have things to do with elements of the game that were offensive to either the government or its culture.
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This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Urian B.
