Palworld vs Pokemon debate could end in court due to copyright claims

The controversy surrounding Palworld vs Pokemon quickly escalated, as fans of both franchises entrenched themselves in a heated debate. Admirers of Palworld extol its innovative approach to the monster-catching and survival genres, contrasting with some Pokemon enthusiasts who criticize its perceived lack of novelty. However, it’s not a unanimous sentiment among Pokemon fans, with a number of them finding enjoyment in both games.

As Pokemon approaches its 28th anniversary, anticipation builds for new trailers and game announcements on Pokemon Day. The series has long been celebrated for its quintessential monster-collecting experience. With fans longing for competition within this genre, Palworld emerges as a formidable contender. Developed by Pocket Pair, this new game introduces endearing creatures reminiscent of Pokemon, aiding in construction and survival tasks.

Despite the games diverging significantly in gameplay – Palworld often dubbed “Pokemon with guns” – their shared elements have sparked a significant Palworld vs Pokemon controversy. Both games feature creature collection, and despite Palworld’s lack of classic Pokemon gameplay traits like turn-based strategy, the similarities in their creature designs have led to widespread allegations of plagiarism against Palworld.

Capturing Pals in Palworld bears a striking resemblance to catching Pokemon, including items akin to the iconic Poke Ball. However, Palworld eschews traditional Pokemon gameplay elements like turn-based strategies. The intersection of these games lies predominantly in their creature designs, which has led Pocket Pair to face numerous plagiarism accusations in the Palworld vs Pokemon debate. Several instances reveal more than just passing similarities between Palworld’s Pals and Pokemon, raising questions about the line between inspiration and imitation.

Copyright issues often arise when games share similarities in their visual and thematic elements. Copyright laws aim to protect the creative works of developers and prevent others from directly copying or reproducing those works without permission. However, determining the boundaries of what constitutes copyright infringement can be a complex and contentious matter.

Palworld AI art controversy sparks more questions

One of the key factors in copyright cases is the degree of similarity between the works in question. While inspiration can be drawn from various sources, including existing franchises, the line between drawing inspiration and crossing into imitation can be blurry. In the case of Palworld vs Pokemon, the debate centers on whether the similarities in creature designs and gameplay elements go beyond mere homage and venture into the realm of copyright infringement. To navigate this terrain, it often falls to legal experts and the courts to make determinations based on established copyright laws and precedents.

Palworld vs Pokemon

In the midst of the escalating Palworld vs Pokemon controversy, a Twitter user, Cecilia Fae, has brought further attention to the debate. Through a detailed thread, Fae highlights striking resemblances between various Pals and Pokemon, including those akin to popular characters like Lucario, Shaymin, Giratina, and Electabuzz. Particularly noteworthy are the parallels drawn between Lycanroc and Gigantamax Eevee, which seem almost like reskins with minimal alterations, notably in features like Gigantamax Eevee’s distinctive neck fur and the overall build of Lycanroc.

As the full roster of Palworld becomes known, these resemblances have become increasingly apparent, leading to a growing call among some Pokemon fans for boycott actions against Palworld. Responding to this, Pocket Pair has recently issued a statement regarding their newfound awareness of the “Pokemon with guns” moniker attributed to Palworld, asserting their lack of intention to replicate elements from Pokemon games.

I went through the entire 111 list of Pals in Palworld to see what seems like a Pokémon rip off compared to not, because I’ve seen a lot of people talk about it but no full comprehensive list. Here’s what I found (it’s a lot) 🧵 pic.twitter.com/EPSpBvC9hD

— Cecilia Fae 🍂 (@CeciliaFae) January 21, 2024

Nonetheless, the resemblance between several Palworld vs Pokemon is hard to ignore. In some cases, the likeness between a Pal and a Pokemon is strikingly direct, while in others, it appears as though Pals are amalgamations of two different Pokemon. The creatures exhibiting these notable similarities include:

The Palworld vs Pokemon debate intensifies as scrutiny over Pocket Pair’s Pal designs grows, with some appearing to mirror more than just the look of existing Pokemon. A notable instance highlighted by fans is the striking similarity between Verdash from Palworld and Cinderace from Pokemon. When placed side by side, these critters exhibit shared characteristics that extend beyond mere visual resemblance, underlining a deeper design overlap.

Further fueling the controversy, Jetragon, a jet-like dragon Pal, bears a remarkable resemblance to Gen 3’s Latios and Latias from Pokemon, both in concept and in specific design elements. This likeness is so pronounced that Jetragon could be perceived as a fusion of the two Pokemon. Similarly, Depresso’s design, with its strikingly similar ears and body structure, mirrors that of Espurr, while Dinossom seems to follow the design ethos of Pokemon such as Meganium and Ivysaur.

These parallels have not gone unnoticed by the Pokemon community, with fans vocally pointing out these similarities.

Taylor Swift AI pictures reveal the dark side of AI

Palworld Pokemon comparison in terms of gameplay

While Pokemon is renowned for its turn-based strategy RPG gameplay, with its combat being a signature element, Palworld diverges notably in this aspect. Described on Steam as “a multiplayer open-world survival crafting monster breeding game,” Palworld carves out its unique niche, blending monster-catching with survival elements reminiscent of games like Ark: Survival Evolved and Rust.

Palworld stands out as an open-world survival multiplayer game, a genre Pokemon does not venture into. Despite Pokemon’s recent foray into more open-world exploration with titles like Scarlet and Violet, its approach to multiplayer is fundamentally different. Pokemon focuses on one-on-one battles, contrasting with Palworld’s expansive, massively multiplayer environment. Furthermore, survival elements, a core aspect of Palworld’s gameplay, are absent in Pokemon, underscoring Palworld’s alignment with games like Ark.

The dynamic with creatures in both games also presents a stark contrast. In Pokemon, Trainers capture, battle, and form deep connections with their Pokemon. Palworld, on the other hand, offers a wider spectrum of interactions with its Pals, as outlined on its Steam page, including options like catching, breeding, fighting, working alongside, selling, dismantling, and even consuming them. This range of interactions, coupled with a darker tone, sets Palworld apart from Pokemon’s family-friendly, utopian adventure.

Additionally, Palworld introduces an element of violence with the player character and Pals using firearms, a feature absent in the Pokemon series. This difference in the portrayal of violence distinctly separates the two games.

About Palworld plagiarism claims

Eric Covington’s tweets showcase a direct comparison using 3D modeling software Blender, contrasting Pokémon Lycanroc and Palworld’s Direhowl. An anonymous character artist, quoted in a Video Games Chronicle article, asserts that achieving identical proportions in multiple models from another game is highly improbable without either directly copying or meticulously tracing the original models.

To “accidentally” create a complex model mesh with so near-exact proportions is practically impossible. To repeat that improbability throughout your roster… doesn’t pass the sniff test. #Palworld #Pokemon

(Media credit: @byofrog) pic.twitter.com/IiSEe7MCDq

— Eric Covington (@covingtown) January 22, 2024

Takuro Mizobe, CEO of Pocket Pair Inc., which developed Palworld, has stepped into the fray with a response on Twitter. As per the translation provided in the Video Games Chronicle article, Mizobe has requested critics to halt slanderous remarks against Palworld’s artists, asserting his responsibility for the designs as part of the team overseeing the game’s creative process. Mizobe’s tweet reads,

“While we have received various opinions about Palworld, it is important to note that the supervision of all materials related to Palworld is conducted by a team, including myself. I bear the responsibility for the produced materials. I would appreciate it if these comments towards artists involved in Palworld would cease,” Mizobe stated.

Although Mizobe did not explicitly address the plagiarism allegations, he emphasizes his accountability for the final designs and expresses his commitment to protecting the interests of Palworld’s artists. The exact design process behind Palworld’s creatures remains undisclosed, leaving this Palworld vs Pokemon controversy as a matter of speculation among social media users and the developers. As of now, there has been no official response from The Pokémon Company, Nintendo, or Game Freak regarding this issue.

Fans already made a Pokemon Palworld mod

The Palworld vs Pokemon debate takes a new turn with the introduction of a mod that blends elements from both worlds. This mod, as showcased by ToastedShoes on social media, is set to revolutionize gameplay by enabling players to capture iconic Pokemon such as Pikachu and Torchic, employing them in rather harsh conditions. Described by the creator as an “overhaul”, this mod transforms Palworld’s environment to incorporate various elements from the Pokemon universe.

In a revealing clip shared by ToastedShoes, the mod is demonstrated in action. Viewers are treated to a scene where Ash is seen hunting a Torterra and engaging in a battle with an Electabuzz. Adding to the intrigue, familiar characters Brock and Misty make an appearance, with Misty notably armed with a gun.

Palworld already has a Pokemon mod

Full video on my YouTube tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/X1ohT6mJiT

— Toasted (@ToastedShoes) January 22, 2024

Will Pokemon sue Palworld?

According to a Rock Paper Shotgun article, Tim Cotton, a senior legal counsel with expertise in media law, does not believe there are grounds for a lawsuit against Palworld for copyright infringement.

Here are the key points from his perspective:

• Copyright is automatically applied to original artwork, preventing others from copying or reproducing that artwork. However, there are exceptions and nuances in copyright law.
• Cotton argues that Palworld and Pokémon are sufficiently different from each other, and there is no confusion among the general public about their origins. He points to various differences in monster designs, such as different profiles, colors, and features, which could undermine a copyright infringement claim.
• Cotton believes that Japanese copyright law, which would be relevant because Pokémon is a Japanese franchise, is similar to UK, EU, and US copyright law. Therefore, he does not see a greater risk of legal action outside these regions.
• Cotton suggests that Palworld’s decision to give its monsters guns could potentially lead to legal trouble for Pocketpair. By implying that Pokémon endorse gun culture due to the similarity in design, Nintendo might have an avenue to sue them.

It’s important to note that this legal analysis is one perspective, and copyright law can be complex. Furthermore, there are claims that some of Palworld’s in-game 3D models closely resemble Pokémon models, which could potentially be compelling evidence of copying, according to other legal experts.