Recently, thanks to the rapid development of AI tools and so-called "vibe coding," enthusiasts have been actively creating fan projects, including games and ROM hacks. A large share of them was based on the popular Pokémon universe. However, the easy ride for such developers seems to be coming to an end.
Claude Takes a Stand on Copyright Protection
Users have noticed that Anthropic's popular artificial intelligence, Claude, has started massively refusing to help create Pokémon-related projects. In response to such requests, the model reports strict restrictions regarding working with Pokémon IP.
Specifically, Claude refuses to perform the following actions:
- Recreating specific games from the Pokémon series, even if they are renamed or claimed as original;
- Drawing or using Pikachu and any other Pokémon, as well as copying their designs in code, SVG, or sprites;
- Using brand names, logos, and mascots of the Pokémon franchise.
The Pokémon Company's Initiative or Being Overcautious?
It is currently not known for certain whether The Pokémon Company sent an official legal claim to the developers at Anthropic, or if the company decided to act proactively to avoid lawsuits from the Japanese giant. In any case, fans will have to look for other tools to create their unofficial games.
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