Maichi Network Apologizes and Removes Pokémon: Reborn After Lawsuit
Guangzhou Maichi Network Technology, the Chinese developer behind the mobile game Pokémon: Reborn, has issued a public apology and removed the title from app stores following a legal defeat. The company acknowledged infringing on the intellectual property rights of the Japanese brand Pokémon. The legal conflict began in December 2021 when The Pokémon Company filed a lawsuit against Maichi Network for unauthorized use of characters, names, and gameplay elements, citing copyright infringement and unfair competition. After an initial court ruling favored The Pokémon Company, ordering Maichi to pay RMB 107 million ($14.75 million) in damages, the dispute proceeded to a second trial. On December 18, 2024, both parties reached a settlement on compensation at the Guangdong High People’s Court. This resolution marks the end of a significant intellectual property battle in the mobile gaming sector, reinforcing the enforcement of copyright protections for major international franchises in China. The apology confirms the finalization of the settlement and the immediate cessation of the infringing game's distribution.
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Maichi Network Apologizes and Removes Pokémon: Reborn After Lawsuit
Guangzhou Maichi Network Technology, the Chinese developer behind the mobile game Pokémon: Reborn, has issued a public apology and removed the title from app stores following a legal defeat. The company acknowledged infringing on the intellectual property rights of the Japanese brand Pokémon. The legal conflict began in December 2021 when The Pokémon Company filed a lawsuit against Maichi Network for unauthorized use of characters, names, and gameplay elements, citing copyright infringement and unfair competition. After an initial court ruling favored The Pokémon Company, ordering Maichi to pay RMB 107 million ($14.75 million) in damages, the dispute proceeded to a second trial. On December 18, 2024, both parties reached a settlement on compensation at the Guangdong High People’s Court. This resolution marks the end of a significant intellectual property battle in the mobile gaming sector, reinforcing the enforcement of copyright protections for major international franchises in China. The apology confirms the finalization of the settlement and the immediate cessation of the infringing game's distribution.
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