Nope, because Nintendo arent suing over copyright (like how the pals look) they are suing over patents, so either gameplay mechanics or under the hood processes. They are complete bullshit and involve things like a patent filed in 2024 for riding a mount in a game.

As others have pointed out patents in Japan expire after 20 years so it cant be anything that was in the original pokemon as that has already termed out.

I think Nintendo’s lawyers must have determined it’s inspiration in this case though. Like you said, they’re suing for patent infringement and not copyright, so they must think a legal challenge on their creature designs is a lost cause.

Well they can actually be/do both.

Just sayin.