In a surprising turn of events, the head of the U.S. Patent Office has ordered a reexamination of Nintendo’s U.S. Patent No. 12,403,397, which covers the mechanic of summoning a character and letting it fight in one of two modes. This decision comes after public outrage and concerns over the patent’s potential impact on the gaming industry.
The reexamination was initiated by USPTO Director John A. Squires, who cited two older published U.S. patent applications, one filed by Konami in 2002 and another by Nintendo in 2019, as prior art references. These references demonstrate a player being allowed to perform a battle in both manual and automatic modes, raising questions about the uniqueness of Nintendo’s patented mechanic.
The move to reexamine the patent marks a rare occurrence, with the last such order happening over a decade ago. This decision has sparked discussions within the gaming community about the implications of patenting common gameplay mechanics and the potential impact on game development and innovation.
Public reactions on platforms like Reddit and gaming forums have been mixed, with some applauding the USPTO’s decision to review the patent and others expressing concern over the broader implications for game developers and players. Industry insiders and critics have also weighed in, with some calling for more transparency and clarity in the patenting process to avoid stifling creativity in the industry.
The reexamination of Nintendo’s patent raises important questions about intellectual property rights in the gaming industry and the balance between protecting innovation and fostering creativity. It also highlights the need for a more nuanced approach to patenting gameplay mechanics to ensure a fair and competitive landscape for developers.
Overall, this development underscores the evolving nature of intellectual property law in the gaming industry and the importance of ethical considerations in patenting practices.
#Nintendo #GamingPatents #USPTO #NexSouk #AIForGood #EthicalAI
References:
– Reddit: [https://www.reddit.com/r/pcgaming/comments/1oo1rvt/huge_blow_to_nintendo_head_of_us_patent_office/]
– Nintendo Wire: [https://nintendowire.com/news/2025/11/04/us-patent-office-orders-reexamination-of-nintendos-character-summoning-pokemon-patent/]
– Gamesindustry.biz: [https://www.gamesindustry.biz/us-patent-office-makes-rare-decision-to-order-reexamination-of-previously-awarded-nintendo-patent]
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