Pokémon Chinese Clone Loses $15 Million Dollars in Copyright Lawsuit

The Pokémon Company has won a significant legal victory against Chinese companies for copyright infringement, securing a $15 million judgment. The lawsuit, filed in December 2021, targeted the developers of "Pokémon Monster Reissue," a mobile RPG accused of blatantly copying Pokémon characters, creatures, and gameplay mechanics.

The game, launched in 2015, featured striking similarities to the Pokémon franchise, including characters closely resembling Pikachu and Ash Ketchum, and gameplay mirroring Pokémon's signature turn-based battles and creature collection. While acknowledging the existence of many monster-catching games, The Pokémon Company argued that "Pokémon Monster Reissue" went beyond inspiration and constituted blatant plagiarism. Evidence included the use of Pikachu artwork from Pokémon Yellow on the app icon and advertisements featuring Ash Ketchum, Oshawott, Pikachu, and Tepig without modification.

Initially, The Pokémon Company sought $72.5 million in damages, a public apology, and a cessation of the game's development, distribution, and promotion. While the final award from the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court was lower, the $15 million judgment serves as a strong deterrent against future copyright infringement. Three of the six companies involved have reportedly filed appeals. The Pokémon Company reiterated its commitment to protecting its intellectual property to ensure fans worldwide can enjoy Pokémon content without disruption.

Addressing past criticism regarding the shutdown of fan projects, former Chief Legal Officer Don McGowan clarified that The Pokémon Company doesn't proactively seek out fan projects. Action is typically taken only when projects gain significant traction, such as through funding campaigns. McGowan highlighted that the company usually learns of fan projects through media coverage or direct discovery.

Despite this policy, The Pokémon Company has issued takedown notices for some smaller fan projects, including creation tools, games like Pokémon Uranium, and even viral videos featuring fan-made content.