The Pocket Monster: Remake mobile game was released in 2015 and on February 12th, 2025, The Pokémon Company posted the apology from the company. The settlement against Guangzhou Maichi Network Technology Co., Ltd for $15 million in damages was revealed in September 2024 but it was lower than the $72 million that The Pokémon Company had sued for.

Public Apology Statement

Guangzhou Maichi Network Technology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "the Company") has launched and operated the self-developed mobile game "Pocket Monster: Remake (口袋妖怪：复刻)" (alias “The Pocket Journey (口袋之旅)”, hereinafter referred to as "the Game") since July 2015 through the Company’s subsidiaries (including but not limited to Khorgos Fangchi Network Technology Co., Ltd., hereinafter the Company and its subsidiaries collectively referred to as "We") and various online game operators.

In December 2021, The Pokémon Company (hereinafter referred to as "TPC") filed a lawsuit with the Shenzhen Intermediate People’s Court in Guangzhou Province, alleging that the Company infringed its copyright and engaged in unfair competition. The first-instance judgment ruled that the Company was liable for the claimed copyright infringement and unfair competition, and ordered the Company to pay damages in the amount of 107 million Chinese yuan to TPC. The case was heard in the second instance on December 18, 2024, and under the mediation of the High People's Court of Guangdong Province, TPC and We reached a settlement on the issue of compensation.

Under the guidance of relevant precedents and judicial documents issued by the High People's Court of Guangdong Province, We have deeply realized that our acts had violated relevant laws during the second-instance trial and settlement process. The Game has extensively used design elements of the well-known Pokémon Video Game Series, infringing the copyrights related to the Pokémon Video Games, and has unfairly taken advantage of the fame and reputation of the Pokémon Video Games, thereby constituting acts of unfair competition. Our copyright infringement and acts of unfair competition have caused significant economic losses to the rights holders and severely damaged the image of the original Pokémon Video Games. We hereby sincerely apologize to TPC and other rights holders, as well as the vast number of players, consumers, and the general public.

The Game has now been completely removed from the market and operations have ceased. At the same time, We have paid a substantial economic price and incurred significant reputational damage. We have deeply reflected on it and learned our lessons. In our future operations, We will place a high priority on intellectual property protection, refrain from infringing upon any related intellectual property rights or interests of the Pokémon Video Games and their rights holders, and avoid engaging in any related acts of unfair competition.

This apology statement is hereby issued.

Guangzhou Maichi Network Technology Co., Ltd.
Khorgos Fangchi Network Technology Co., Ltd.
February 12, 2025

Source: https://corporate.pokemon.co.jp/PostImages/pokemon_news__2_3_4_5_6_7_8_9.pdf