Patent Result, a research firm, tallied the top 10 game & entertainment companies whose patents were cited by Japan Patent Office to reject new applications in 2025. Contrary to the common misconception, Nintendo ranked only #5. Bandai Namco’s patents, ranked #1, were cited twice as often:
The ranking demonstrates each company’s IP moat to prevent others from filing the same or substantially similar patents. More info in the press release.
P.S.: As mentioned before, ~85% of patent applications are temporarily rejected. Most “just change it up a bit” and are later granted. The reports of patent “monopolies” are greatly exaggerated. ICYMI, I analyzed certain patent misinformation here.
[Originally posted on 2026-06-27 Pacific Time]
