The Pokemon Company Is Suing 'Pokemon Sword And Shield' Leakers

The Pokemon Company is taking legal action against those who leaked confidential information about the recently released “Pokemon” games “Pokemon Sword” and “Pokemon Shield.”

Several leaks about the latest “Pokemon” titles, “Pokemon Sword” and “Pokemon Shield,” were released to the gaming public recently, revealing many of the games' details before The Pokemon Company released the titles.

Forbes reported that according to a lawsuit filed in a Seattle court, lawyers for The Pokemon Company are now looking for those who leaked the information before the titles could be released to the public. The leaked information pertains to pictures of previously unknown Pokemon taken from the games' Strategy Guide. The pictures were shared online via Discord and 4Chan earlier this month.

Following the initial leak, the images were also shared via mainstream social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Imgur. They were also spread across via popular video game sites such as Polygon and Dot Esports. About 300 web pages, on dozens of platforms, “linked to websites containing the leaked Strategy Guide pictures,” the lawsuit said.

Polygon noted that the Strategy Guide was released on Nov. 22, a week after “Pokemon Sword” and “Pokemon Shield” were released for the Nintendo Switch. The Pokemon Company explained that it had security measures designed to ensure that such leaks do not happen.

The security measures involved background checks to make sure employees are clean. These employees will then store files on secure computers, restrict access to the confidential game files, trace the files, and mark the files. Anyone who's had access to the files are also required to sign an NDA – a non-disclosure agreement.

“ Only production facility employees with proper security clearance have access to the Strategy Guide during the production process,” lawyers for The Pokémon Company wrote. “Those with permission to access the secured areas are not permitted to bring in cellular phones or cameras.”

The lawyers from Perkins Coie, a firm that worked with Google and other tech companies, said the aforementioned leaks caused “irreparable injury” to the brand. The Pokemon Company is seeking “compensatory damages” as well as exemplary damages, monetary relief, and injunctive relief. For now, however, they are still looking for those responsible for the leaks.