Former Pokémon legal chief, Don McGowan, didn’t hold back when expressing his thoughts on Palworld, stating that it “looks like the usual ripoff nonsense” he encountered frequently during his tenure as the chief legal officer of Pokémon. In a recent chat with Game File, McGowan, who defended Pikachu legally from 2008 to 2020, expressed surprise that Palworld has reached its current level of popularity, considering its resemblance to the iconic Pokémon franchise.
Palworld, often described as “Pokémon with guns,” has faced accusations of copyright infringement from internet detectives. Despite the claims being labeled as “slanderous” by the developer, Pocketpair, McGowan remains unconvinced. He mentioned being familiar with such cases throughout his career and expressed astonishment that Palworld has not faced legal action sooner.
Pocketpair, the developer, has asserted its commitment to avoiding intellectual property infringement, and Nintendo, known for swift legal action in such matters, has not taken steps to shut down the game. While Pocketpair’s CEO, Takuro Mizobe, draws comparisons to ARK: Survival Evolved, McGowan remains skeptical. The former Pokémon legal chief’s sentiments suggest that even if legal action is not imminent, the current Pokémon Company legal team may share similar concerns about the rising popularity of a game that appears to borrow heavily from the Pokémon concept, now featuring firearms.
