Former Pokémon Legal Chief Says He "Wouldn't Touch" That DHS Video That Has Fans Calling For Action

[ad_1] Picture: Nintendo Life Replace [Thu 25th Sep 2025, 8:30am]: The Pokémon Firm has addressed the video in an announcement supplied to Kotaku.

The IP holder clarifies the apparent — that it wasn't concerned in creating the video and that permission wasn't given — though it makes no point out of additional motion.

This is the assertion, as given to Kotaku:

“We're conscious of a current video posted by the Division of Homeland Safety that features imagery and language related to our model. Our firm was not concerned within the creation or distribution of this content material, and permission was not granted for the usage of our mental property.”

Authentic Story: A current on-line publish from the US Division of Homeland Safety has prompted calls from offended followers for The Pokémon Firm to provoke authorized motion in opposition to the US federal division.

Should you've by some means missed it, the publish — entitled 'Gotta Catch 'Em All' — incorporates a video mixing the Pokémon anime's well-known intro with footage of legislation enforcement brokers handcuffing and detaining folks.

The usage of the Pokémon IP to advertise the wave of current, controversial arrests by ICE brokers within the US has some followers calling on the IP homeowners to take authorized motion, with replies tagging official accounts on X and referencing Nintendo's notoriety as a litigious firm protecting of its manufacturers.

Nevertheless, talking with IGN, The Pokémon Firm's former Chief Authorized Officer Don McGowan says that he believes a lawsuit is unlikely, mentioning particularly the green-card standing of a lot of TPC's executives within the US and a normal aversion to publicity:

"I do not see them doing something about this for a couple of causes. First, consider how little you see [The Pokémon Company International]'s identify within the press. They're INSANELY publicity-shy and like to let the model be the model.

"Second, a lot of their execs within the USA are on inexperienced playing cards. Even when I used to be nonetheless on the firm I would not contact this, and I am probably the most trigger-happy CLO [Chief Legal Officer] I've ever met. This may blow over in a few days they usually'll be comfortable to let it."

Referencing Pokémon's well-known catch phrase, the minute-long video performs the theme tune to the '90s anime in its entirety, reducing between clips from the intro that includes Ash Ketchum and photographs of doorways being blown open with explosives.

'Division of Homeland Safety' seems in a font just like the Pokémon emblem, adopted by blurred footage of Border Patrol brokers detaining folks. Quite a few Pokémon TCG-style card mock-ups are proven on the finish, displaying convicted people with a weak spot to Ice-type.