Nintendo announced that it’s won another lawsuit and this time against Maricar in Japan. Legal proceedings to protect Nintendo’s IP started in 2017.
About Maricar
Popular with tourists and locals alike, Maricar was an attraction in Tokyo which allows paying customers to rent a go kart, dress up in some familiar character costumes and drive around Tokyo.
But quite understandably, this got noticed by Nintendo and for the last few years a lawsuit filed by Nintendo against Maricar has been met with appeals. But it’s been announced the Supreme Court ruled in Nintendo’s favour and Maricar has to pay 50 million yen in damages.
Statement regarding verdict
Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minami-ku, Kyoto City, President: Shuntaro Furukawa, hereinafter “the Company”), Marika Co., Ltd. (current trade name: MARI Mobility Development Co., Ltd., Head Office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo, hereinafter “Defendant Company” )
And its representative director (hereinafter, also referred to as “defendants”), in the proceedings filed on February 24, 2017, the defendants filed a petition for acceptance of the appeal, but on December 24, 2020.
On the date, the First Small Court of the Supreme Court decided not to accept the case as a court of appeal.
As a result, the Intellectual Property High Court has finalized the appeal decision ordering the injunction against unfair competition against the defendant company and the payment of damages of 50 million yen to the defendants.From Nintendo’s news release 28/12/2020
