The developers of an app, which was developed by Chinese companies, was being sued by the Pokémon Company for allegedly copying the Japanese franchise without permission.
Apparently, the app has been operating without permission for seven years.
The Pokémon Company Is Suing Six Chinese Companies
A mobile game called Pocket Monster Reissue, also known as Koudaiyaoguai Fuke in Chinese, is now being sued by the Pokémon Company for alleged plagiarism and copyright infringement.
Due to the mobile game's alleged resemblances to the Japanese franchise, the Pokémon Company is bringing legal action against six Chinese companies for copyright infringement and unfair business practices, according to a news story by South China Morning Post.
Meanwhile, as per the report by IGN (via Polygon), the game makes use of ostensibly unchanged visual elements and figures from the Pokémon series, including Pikachu and Ash Ketchum, in its marketing materials.
In mainland China, Pocket Monster Reissue can be downloaded via the Apple App Store and a variety of Android app stores, including those managed by Xiaomi, Huawei Technologies Co., and Tencent Holdings.
According to a stock exchange filing made on Thursday by one of the defendants, Jiangyin Zhongnan Heavy Industries Co, the six companies are alleged to have been operating the Chinese game without permission since 2015.
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Damages of the Alleged Copyright Infringement, Plagiarism to the Pokémon Company
The Pokémon Company is suing the defendant companies for 500 million yuan ($72.5 million) in damages and is asking that they apologize on well-known Chinese websites and social media platforms.
Per South China Morning Post, the Pokémon Company has asked the Shenzhen Intermediate People's Court to issue a ruling halting the game's production, distribution, operation, and promotion.
It is worth noting that the Japanese video game publisher holds the worldwide licensing rights for the Pokémon franchise.
IGN mentioned that Zhongnan Heavy Industries said its revenue in 2021 rose by 24.5%. A year after its launch, the game had already earned its developers $43 million.
The game generated more than 300 million yuan in revenue overall and more than 30 million yuan each month by 2016, according to Zhongnan Heavy Industries' financial report for that year.
Rampant Video Game Piracy in China
Apperenty, copyright infringement is not the only problem lurking in China's gaming industry.
As per the report by South China Morning Post, video game piracy has been also rife in the nation.
In a joint statement released last August, nearly 100 Chinese game developers urged the government to increase oversight of online marketplaces like Alibaba Group Holding's Taobao, where merchants were allegedly selling illegal games.
Chinese media reports that from 2019 to 2021, more than 40 local game creators lost a combined 180 million yuan due to piracy.
This Is Not The First Time that the Pokémon Company Sued Someone Due to Copyright Infringement
IGN, on the other hand, noted that the Japanese-film has filed lawsuits for intellectual property theft in the past as well.
The company sued an influencer in 2020 over Pokémon-themed branding and items.
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