US patent office revokes Nintendo’s patent on summoning characters to make them battle

April 2, 2026 - 02:19

In a significant intellectual property decision, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has revoked a key Nintendo patent related to summoning characters to engage in battles. The patent, central to mechanics in games like the "Super Smash Bros." series, described systems for calling assist characters into a fight.

The action followed a rare direct order from the USPTO Director last year to re-examine the patent's validity. Upon review, examiners concluded that the claimed invention was obvious in light of prior art and existing gaming technology, and thus should not have been granted. This decision invalidates the specific patent protections Nintendo held for this gameplay mechanic.

While the ruling impacts a specific patent filing, it does not affect Nintendo's copyrights or trademarks on its iconic characters and game worlds. The company can continue to develop and publish games featuring assist character mechanics. However, the loss of this patent may open the door for other developers to implement similar summoning systems without fear of infringement on this particular claim. The decision underscores the ongoing challenges in patenting software and game design concepts, where the line between a novel invention and an obvious iteration on existing ideas is frequently contested.