Konami Digital Entertainment is suing Cygames over patent infringement in the Uma Musume Pretty Derby game. According to the document published by CyberAgent, Cygames’ parent company, the lawsuit was filed on March 31st and delivered on May 10. Konami is requesting 4 billion yen in damages (plus relevant delay charges) and an injunction on the production, usage, and provision of Uma Musume Pretty Derby.
“Cygames has been in discussions with Konami Digital Entertainment regarding patent rights for certain parts of the game system and program of “Uma Musume Pretty Derby” operated by Cygames. However, Cygames’s opinion has not [been[ accepted by Konami Digital Entertainment, which resulted in the lawsuit being filed.” the document states without specifying which parts of the game are allegedly infringing on Konami’s patents. The mobile game in question was launched in 2021 and is currently one of the top earning gacha games.
Uma Musume: Pretty Derby is a mixed-media franchise created by Cygames and focused on horse racing – the main characters are horse girls. It started off as a manga titled Uma Musume Pretty Derby: Haru Urara Ganbaru! by Huan Yu (ZECO). The manga was serialized on the Cycomis website in 2016. Starting Gate! Uma Musume Pretty Derby manga has also been serialized since 2017. A spin-off titled Uma Musume: Cinderella Grey also exists, along with a new manga, titled, Uma Musume Pretty Derby Uma Musumeshi, which began serialization on March 1.
TV anime by P.A.Works premiered in the spring of 2018. Umayon chibi spin-off, which adapts the manga of the same name, premiered in 2020. The anime had 12 episodes and was animated by DMM.futureworks and W-Toon Studio. The second season by Studio Kai premiered in 2021 and the third one is set to premiere later this year.
Source: CyberAgent, Oricon
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