The Pokémon Company successfully defended its intellectual property, winning a $15 million judgment against Chinese companies that infringed on its Pokémon characters. This follows a lawsuit filed in December 2021, alleging blatant copying of characters, creatures, and gameplay mechanics in the mobile RPG "Pokémon Monster Reissue."

The court found the Chinese developers guilty of copyright infringement and intellectual property theft. The game's blatant similarities to the Pokémon franchise, including characters strikingly similar to Pikachu and Ash Ketchum, and gameplay mirroring Pokémon's core mechanics, were key factors in the ruling. While the "monster-catching" genre isn't solely owned by Pokémon, the court determined "Pokémon Monster Reissue" crossed the line from inspiration to plagiarism. The game's icon, advertisements, and gameplay footage all prominently featured recognizable Pokémon and characters.

News of the lawsuit initially surfaced in September 2022, with The Pokémon Company seeking $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 appealed the decision.

The Pokémon Company reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its intellectual property, ensuring fans worldwide can enjoy Pokémon content without worry. However, the company has faced past criticism for its handling of fan projects. Former Chief Legal Officer Don McGowan clarified that the company doesn't proactively seek out fan projects but intervenes when projects gain significant traction or cross a certain threshold. He explained that the company often learns about fan projects through media coverage, emphasizing that publicity can inadvertently draw attention from The Pokémon Company's legal team. Despite this, takedown notices have been issued for smaller projects in the past.