Pokémon
The Pokémon Company wants you to stop messaging them about Palworld
They say they will investigate the matter but were likely already aware of this since the beginning.
The Pokémon Company has released a Press Release regarding the allegations about "another company's game released in January 2024"; apparently, enough fans have reported to them about Palworld, a Crafting Survival game with very similar monster-catching mechanics and several identical monster designs.
Inquiries Regarding Other Companies' Games
We have received many inquiries regarding another company's game released in January 2024. We have not granted any permission for the use of Pokémon intellectual property or assets in that game. We intend to investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokémon. We will continue to cherish and nurture each and every Pokémon and its world, and work to bring the world together through Pokémon in the future.
Palworld has been publicly known for years, although it was just recently released. If The Pokémon Company or Nintendo had any hint that Palworld was using their intellectual property without permission, they would have taken action from the beginning, as they did with the Pokémon in Palworld Mod. Therefore, the recent message from the company may be a reminder to fans that they are aware of the game's existence and that there's no need to keep reporting it to them.
It is more likely that any assets claimed to be stolen might have been intentionally modeled similarly to the original ones. This could be done either to show where they got the inspiration or to generate buzz around them.
Although some of their designs may resemble existing Pokémon, a closer examination using 3D modeling tools reveals that the method used to create the "copy" is not identical to the original, indicating that the similarities are probably intentional but not a direct copy.
Many arguments can be made back and forth to support both sides of the issue. Ultimately, however, it is up to the affected parties - The Pokémon Company in the case of the plagiarism allegations and Valve in the case of using AI tools for a game on its platform - to determine whether these claims are valid.
