As the legal spat between Palworld developer Pocketpair and the IP titan Nintendo drags on, things are taking an interesting turn. Following the rejection of patent rights by the Japan Patent Office, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has initiated a 're-examination process' for the Pokémon-related patent that it had approved just this past September.

On the 4th (local time), the outlet Games Fray reported that the USPTO has taken the unusual step of re-scrutinizing Nintendo’s patent regarding a 'system for summoning support characters to battle enemies.' Notably, this move is under the direct supervision of USPTO Director John A. Squires, which has certainly caught everyone's attention.

This re-examination doesn't look like good news for Nintendo. The USPTO flagged that technical structures similar to the 'system capable of both manual and automatic combat' were already present in a 2002 Konami patent and a 2019 Nintendo patent itself. It appears these prior elements weren't properly accounted for during the initial vetting process.

This patent has been a lightning rod for controversy since it was first filed. One lawyer specializing in gaming patents warned that the mere existence of such a patent could 'create legal uncertainty and drive up litigation costs across the industry.' There has long been speculation that Nintendo might use this as a weapon to lean on or sue competitors.

Local experts are calling this move 'highly exceptional,' with many suggesting that, given historical precedents, the patent is likely to be revoked. As various patents filed by Nintendo to gain an edge in the Palworld dispute face scrutiny over their legal validity, Nintendo's overall legal strategy seems to be hitting a rough patch.