Virtual Legality

Virtual Legality is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law).

Palworld vs Pokemon | Can This Be Legal? (VL775)

E775 • Jan 23, 2024 • 92 mins

In this episode, Richard Hoeg delves into the ethical and legal implications of Palworld's design, including a detailed analysis of its copyright controversy. He explores international copyright laws, the concept of true copies, and potential infringements. He also discusses the likelihood of Nintendo taking legal action.

Key Points

Palworld is a new video game that has sold over 6 million copies in 4 days, inspired by Pokemon but with significant differences in gameplay, such as incorporating survival and crafting elements.
Nintendo and the Pokemon company have not taken legal action against Palworld despite its success and similarities to Pokemon, suggesting a potential tolerance for homage or derivative works that do not directly copy their assets.
The use of AI in game development, like that mentioned by Pocket Pair's CEO, is a contentious topic as it raises questions about copyright infringement, but there is no evidence to suggest AI was used to create Palworld.

Speakers

Richard Hoeg

Host • 100%

Chapters

0:00	Introduction
1:22	Discussion on the ethical and legal implications of Palworld's design
7:56	Response from former Pokemon company legal team member and analysis of specific design similarities
15:01	In-depth discussion on Palworld's copyright controversy
24:32	Deep dive into the foundations of international copyright laws
33:20	Examination of the concept of true copies, substantial similarity, and fair use in copyright law
41:29	Potential for legal action against Palworld and the likelihood of Nintendo taking action
49:35	Exploration of the art and gameplay of Palworld and Pokemon and their potential copyright infringement issues
57:12	Richard Hoeg's predictions on the future evolution of Palworld's game design and the influence of its success on future Pokemon games
1:07:09	Discussion on the political implications of Pal World's gameplay and comparison to other games
1:15:55	Continuation on the Nintendo and Palworld legal issues and a look at the design elements and intellectual property
1:31:03	Wrap-up, thanks to listeners, and end of episode

Transcript

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