Nintendo Patent Application for Touchscreen Monster-Catching Rejected by Japan Patent Office

The Japan Patent Office (JPO) has issued a rejection notice for one patent applications from Nintendo that is tied to its ongoing lawsuit against Palworld developer Pocketpair. The rejected application specifically covered touchscreen-based monster-catching mechanics, and examiners concluded it had no technological innovation.

The patent application in question is numbered 2026-019762. It is a divisional application, meaning it was split off from an earlier patent filing that dealt with monster capture mechanics. This newer application was specifically limited to devices with a touch panel, and included game mechanics involving the use of capture items to catch field characters and bring them into battle, which closely resemble systems seen in Pokemon games.

Nintendo and Pocketpair have been in a legal dispute since September 2024, when Nintendo took its first steps in the case, alleging that Palworld infringed on three of its patents related to monster-capturing game mechanics. The lawsuit is still ongoing.

The JPO examiner reviewed the application and determined that it was nothing more than a general set of rules for monster hunting. The examiner found no inventive step and no technically original elements in the filing.

Nintendo had already amended its claims in February 2026 before the rejection came through, and it still has the option to amend again, file an appeal, or pursue other legal avenues. If Nintendo does appeal, the process could extend the timeline into 2026 and beyond. This is not the only recent setback for Nintendo on the patent front. In April 2026, the United States Patent and Trademark Office also issued a non-final rejection of a separate Nintendo patent related to summoning and battling characters. Multiple intellectual property lawyers had voiced critical opinions on that application around the time of the decision.

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