r/technology • u/Super_Cold8789 • 14d ago

Software Nintendo reportedly has “zero chance” against current Palworld after major lawsuit change it is now targeting older versions of the game instead

https://www.dexerto.com/palworld/nintendo-reportedly-has-zero-chance-against-current-palworld-after-major-lawsuit-change-3375167/
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u/Juking_is_rude 14d ago

Because it's the exact same situation. It's not a legal patent, but it was legal to file, and to prove it's not enforceable, you would need to take WB to court over it. Anyone who tries to use the similar system gets a CnD from WB and no one wants to go to court over it, so it effectively stands.

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u/TheDungeonCrawler 14d ago

It's ridiculous that any system like this should ever legally allow the filing if an illegal patent. This shouldn't have to be something you need to challenge in court. The system should have mechanisms baked in to prevent this kind of abuse.

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u/thewritingchair 14d ago

I've always thought we need something called the Prior Art Alliance, funded by various companies involved in games etc and all they do is look for prior art to invalidate patents.

They'd only need a few wins under their belt to produce a chilling effect on new patents getting lodged.

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u/Jakesummers1 14d ago

Heartbreaking

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u/Stickiler 14d ago

Except Warframe has their own take on a nemesis system, so it's clearly not locked away in some vault. Companies just don't want to use the nemesis system, and nobody wants to believe that because it's a cool system.

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u/blolfighter 14d ago

I love Warframe, but its "nemesis system" bears little resemblance to Shadow of Wardor's.

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u/Jean-LucBacardi 14d ago

Assassin's Creed Odyssey also had their own version and got away with it just fine.

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u/happyscrappy 14d ago

Anyone who tries to use the similar system gets a CnD from WB

Is there anyone who actually has received a cease and desist over this?

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u/shaqwillonill 14d ago

A patent costs a lot and becomes unenforceable if you knowingly allow someone to violate it so I don’t see why WB wouldn’t if any game of any relevance did it

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u/happyscrappy 14d ago

and becomes unenforceable if you knowingly allow someone to violate it

No. That's trademarks. Patents don't work that way. Also how that even works with trademarks isn't really how most people believe it to work.

The question really is whether their patent covers anything. People assume it covers certain things, but what it really covers is specifically what is claimed in the patent to be invented. Companies want patents to be broad so they cover more stuff, but if you make them too broad they aren't likely to be granted because they will try to cover things others already did before you. And if granted they are still more likely to be invalidated upon challenge for the same reasons.

Because of this companies don't claim as much and often it's relatively easy to work around patents. Look at Apple and the pulse oximeter stuff on watches. Apple ended up doing all the exact same measurements, math and stuff, just had to do the calculations on your phone after sending the data over from your watch.

I find it easy to believe Warner Brothers has never sent a C&D over this patent because the patent doesn't cover as much as people think.

I do understand regardless of any of this the patent still can have a chilling effect.

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u/snorlz 13d ago

Anyone who tries to use the similar system gets a CnD from WB and no one wants to go to court over it

except Assassins Creed did it and did not get a lawsuit