Sega files lawsuit against Memento Mori developer for purported patent violations

The Sega Corporation has initiated legal proceedings against Japan's Bank of Innovation, accusing the developer of violating multiple patents held by Sega. This action is centered around the developer's idle RPG, Memento Mori, which Sega has identified in its complaint submitted to the Tokyo District Court.

As reported by the Japanese website Otaku Research Institute, Sega seeks damages amounting to ¥1 billion and aims to secure an injunction against the distribution of Memento Mori and its associated materials. Meanwhile, Bank of Innovation insists that its products do not infringe on Sega’s intellectual property and will contest these claims in court.

The legal dispute follows unsuccessful negotiations between the two companies, prompting Sega to pursue a lawsuit. Industry analyst Dr. Serkan Toto mentioned on X that one of the contentious patents involves a method for merging character cards in collection games.

Dr. Toto also noted the potential financial impact on Bank of Innovation if Sega's claim for ¥1 billion is upheld. This legal battle occurs shortly after Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a lawsuit against Pocketpair for alleged patent violations related to Palworld. A legal analyst suggested to GamesIndustry.biz that some patents in Nintendo’s case might have been crafted to specifically address Palworld's features.