The Pokemon Company has officially responded to a recent video from the US Department of Homeland Security that featured several elements from the Pokemon anime. The video in question featured the iconic Pokemon anime's theme song "Gotta Catch 'em All" and some visuals, interspersed between clips of ICE arrests.
Earlier this week, the Department of Homeland Security published a video on its social media channels to promote the work of ICE. This video used footage of ICE arrests spliced together with clips from the original Pokemon anime and the "Gotta Catch 'em All" theme song. Arrested individuals were even displayed in the style of Pokemon trading cards in the video, with their crimes listed beneath their respective images. For Pokemon fans, it was undoubtedly disturbing to see the beloved series being paired with imagery of raids and handcuffed suspects.
Gamer Goes to Jail After Buying Pokemon Cards with Company Credit Card
A gamer tries to disguise purchases of Pokemon cards and video games on a company credit card, but will end up in jail as a result.
The Pokemon Company Confirms Controversial ICE Video Was Made Without Permission
A lot of Pokemon fans suspected that the Department of Homeland Security used the anime's theme song and clips without permission, and so they promptly took to social media to voice criticism, even asking Nintendo to file a copyright infringement lawsuit against the US government. It seems the suspicion was correct, as The Pokemon Company has issued a statement to Eurogamer clarifying that it was "not involved in the creation or distribution" of the Department of Homeland Security's video, and "permission was not granted" to the government agency for the use of the Pokemon IP.
We are aware of a recent video posted by the Department of Homeland Security that includes imagery and language associated with our brand. [The Pokemon Company] was not involved in the creation or distribution of this content, and permission was not granted for the use of our intellectual property.
Therefore, the use of Pokemon characters, imagery, and music was completely unauthorized for the video, opening the Department of Homeland Security up to potential legal trouble. However, The Pokemon Company did not comment on whether it intends to pursue legal action against the agency. Adding further insight, The Pokemon Company's former Chief Legal Officer, Don McGowan, told IGN in a recent interview that it is unlikely the firm will seek legal recourse. McGowan cited several reasons, including The Pokemon Company's tendency to avoid publicity, its executives' immigration statuses in the US, and the fact that engaging in a legal battle with a government agency could give rise to further controversy.
Regardless, fans continue to call on both Nintendo and The Pokemon Company to sue the Department of Homeland Security for blatant copyright infringement. It remains to be seen what comes of this situation, but it's definitely not the first time the current Trump administration has attracted the ire of gamers. Just two weeks ago, US Secretary of Health and Human Services RFK Jr insinuated that there are links between video games and gun violence — a claim that has long stood debunked.
- Release Date
- 1997 - 2023
- Network
- TV Tokyo, TV Osaka, TV Aichi, TVh, TVQ, TSC
- Directors
- Shigeru Omachi, Koji Ogawa, Fumihiro Ueno, Hideki Hiroshima, Maki Kodaira, Makoto Ooga, Ayumi Moriyama, Keitaro Motonaga, Shigeru Ueda, Fumihiro Yoshimura, Minoru Ohara, Yoshitaka Makino, Kiyoshi Egami, Makoto Sokuza, Bjarne Heuser, Naoki Murata, Kenichi Nishida, Tomoe Makino, Masahiko Watanabe, Hiroaki Takagi, Tazumi Mukaiyama, Ryohei Horiuchi, Yoshihiro Oda, Hiromichi Matano
Cast
-
Rica MatsumotoSatoshi (voice) -
Ikue OtaniPikachu (voice)
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Junki Takegami, Atsuhiro Tomioka, Hideki Sonoda, Yukiyoshi Ôhashi, Yuka Miyata, Takeshi Shudo, Shouji Yonemura, Shinzo Fujita, Michihiro Tsuchiya, Deko Akao, Reiko Yoshida, Aya Matsui, Junichi Fujisaku
- Franchise(s)
- Pokemon
- Creator(s)
- Naoko Takeuchi
