PALWORLD was a surprise indie hit. Created by a small studio, it far surpassed everyone’s expectations.

However, fans noticed similarities between Pocketpair’s Pals and Nintendo’s Pokémon, and questioned whether there could be any legal difficulty.

Palworld / Niantic

Fans were suspicious of the similarities between some designs[/caption]

Fans immediately took to social media to ask if there would be legal proceedings, but Nintendo only said they were looking into it.

A previous statement about a potential Palworld lawsuit from Nintendo read that the company would “investigate and take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to the Pokémon.”

Nintendo has finally announced that it, alongside The Pokémon Company, will finally be suing Palworld developer Pocketpair, but it’s not for what people thought.

While fans thought the Pals’ designs were too close to Pokémon’s, the companies are not suing for copyright infringement.

Instead, Nintendo and The Pokémon Company filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court yesterday.

They are seeking an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages. 

A short statement released by Nintendo on its investor relations website reads as follows: “Nintendo Co., Ltd., together with The Pokémon Company, filed a patent infringement lawsuit in the Tokyo District Court against Pocketpair, Inc. on September 18, 2024.

“This lawsuit seeks an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages on the grounds that Palworld, a game developed and released by the Defendant, infringes multiple patent rights.

“Nintendo will continue to take necessary actions against any infringement of its intellectual property rights including the Nintendo brand itself, to protect the intellectual properties it has worked hard to establish over the years.”

The statement doesn’t reveal which specific patents Pocketpair has allegedly infringed upon, but it is worth noting that this is not a copyright case, so the details are likely very complex.

Palworld was initially released for PC and Xbox in January 2024, and fans often called it ‘Pokémon with guns’ thanks to the cute and colourful Pal designs.

However, the gameplay is very different from the Nintendo franchise, with real-time battles, and survival crafting elements.

There were allegations that Pocketpair ripped and modified models from Pokémon designs, but there was no evidence for this and it was never proven to be true.

Pocketpair has released its own statement regarding the lawsuit, which says: “Yesterday, a lawsuit was filed against our company for patent infringement.

“We have received notice of this lawsuit and will begin the appropriate legal proceedings and investigations into the claims of patent infringement.

“At this moment, we are unaware of the specific patents we are accused of infringing upon, and we have not been notified of such details.

“Pocketpair is a small indie game company based in Tokyo. Our goal as a company has always been to create fun games. 

“We will continue to pursue this goal because we know that our games bring joy to millions of gamers around the world. 

“Palworld was a surprise success this year, both for gamers and for us. We were blown away by the amazing response to the game and have been working hard to make it even better for our fans. 

“We will continue improving Palworld and strive to create a game that our fans can be proud of.

“It is truly unfortunate that we will be forced to allocate significant time to matters unrelated to game development due to this lawsuit. 

“However, we will do our utmost for our fans, and to ensure that indie game developers are not hindered or discouraged from pursuing their creative ideas.

“We apologise to our fans and supporters for any worry or discomfort that this news has caused. As always, thank you for your continued support of Palworld and Pocketpair.”

We have also reached out to Pocketpair for comment but have not received a response at the time of writing.

If you want to read more about Pokémon, check out the upcoming seven-star raid in Pokémon Scarlet and Violet.

LIVERPOOL and Bournemouth clash at Anfield in the Premier League on Saturday with the hosts looking to bounce back from last week’s surprise defeat.

Our team of betting experts have selected a Bet Builder for the top-flight encounter, which Betfred have priced up at a generous 11/2.

Not just that! New Betfred customers who register an account with Betfred and stake a tenner on football will receive £50 in sports free bets!

Find The Sun’s betting publishing principles here

Liverpool vs Bournemouth

Our Bet Builder selections: Liverpool to Win, Both teams to score, Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz to score at 11/2.

Back our 11/2 Bet Builder

Here’s why we’ve made those selections:

• Liverpool win: Liverpool quickly bounced back from last week’s defeat to Nottingham Forest with a confident 3-1 at the San Siro against AC Milan. They boast a terrific record against Bournemouth having won nine of their last 10 encounters – scoring 3+ goals in 10 of their 18 H2H meetings.
• Both teams to score: Liverpool have only conceded once in the league this season, but the Cherries do possess a real attacking threat and rank in the top five for highest xG and attempts on goal.
• Mohamed Salah to score: What’s left to say? Salah loves playing against Bournemouth having netted nine in 10 appearances against them.
• Luis Diaz to score: The Colombian will start having been rested for the Champions League clash with AC Milan. He’s netted five in his last six for Liverpool in all competitions and has three in three against Bournemouth.

Back our 11/2 Bet Builder

---

Remember to gamble responsibly

A responsible gambler is someone who:

• Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
• Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
• Never chase their losses
• Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
• Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
• Gamble Aware – www.gambleaware.org

Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk

---

*New customers only. Register with BETFRED50. Deposit £10+ via Debit Card and place first bet £10+ at Evens (2.0)+ on Sports within 7 days to get 3 x £10 in Sports Free Bets & 2 x £10 in Acca Free Bets within 10 hours of settlement. 7-day expiry. Eligibility & payment exclusions apply. T&Cs apply.

---

EASTENDERS has aired a shock exit – and a surprising return to Walford tonight.

The BBC soap said goodbye to Bobby Beale after actor Clay Milner Russell quit the soap after  five years.

BBC

Jane returned to take him to his new life in the Cotswolds[/caption]

BBC

He said goodbye to his family after deciding he needed to escape his demons[/caption]

BBC

Bobby drove away with mum Jane after years of feeling uneasy in Walford[/caption]

Viewers watched this week as Bobby was devastated to find girlfriend Anna Knight had terminated her pregnancy and then cheated on him with his best mate Freddie Slater – and it convinced him to leave Walford for good.

After visiting Lucy’s grave to say goodbye, Bobby was found by Ian and Cindy.

But as he asked for some time alone with his sister, Cindy lost it and raged at him for being there and speaking to her daughter – and he finally fought back.

He told CIndy that he didn’t care if she hated him anymore – he deserves to have a life with Ian agreeing that Lucy would want him to move on.

Bobby then revealed that Jane was on her way to collect him and take him back to the Cotswolds.

The family gathered to say goodbye to Bobby with Kathy becoming tearful at her grandson leaving.

And when Jane arrived, Cindy couldn’t help but take a pop at her cardigan for one final row.

“It’s weird being back,” said Jane.

“Feels like time’s stood still. Sometimes I felt like I couldn’t breathe around here.”

Ian told her: “Look after our special boy.”

“Haven’t I always?” she replied as Anna Knight arrived to beg Bobby for another chance.

“I really do love you Bobby, and I think we could make this work, I really do,” she said.

But Bobby finally found his strength and told her where to go: “No. I don’t want to make it work.

“You should’ve told me that you were pregnant but you just made assumptions which proves that you don’t really know me, not the real me, not what’s in my heart.”

As he spoke Freddie arrived and Bobby added: “So why would I want to be with you? You two deserve each other.”

He told Jane he was ready to go adding: “It’s time to forget being Bobby Beale and just focus on being Bobby.”

And after a goodbye to his family again Bobby climbed in the car and they drove off.

One man, who worked for a government-owned company, was told the winners before they were publicly announced.

A HOMEOWNER showed off the winter wonderland she created in her living room three months ahead of Christmas.

Tracey Drew says she’s been putting her Christmas ornaments up in September for the last 35 years.

Kennedy Newsand Media

Kennedy Newsand Media

However, not everyone is a fan of the Christmas-obsessed gran’s early enthusiasm.

Tracey revealed that her fiancé “can’t stand” the decor and has told her to take it down.

And after this month’s weather turned “miserable,” the mum-of-six decided to beat the autumnal blues, putting her decorations up on September 9th.

Photos show Tracey’s living room covered in more than 100 decorations as she transforms the space into Santa’s Grotto.

The 53-year-old says Christmas decorations are one of her favourite things about the festive period.

She added that she also loves watching her grandchildren open their presents on December 25th.

But after decking her house out in autumn for the Christmas celebrations, she claims her grandkids have called her “crazy.”

Meanwhile, Tracey’s fiancé has pledged to take her away next September so she isn’t at home to put them up.

Despite the remarks, Tracey says she will not be removing the decorations and is even adding a new Father Christmas statue to her growing collection.

She revealed that her partner doesn’t know about the latest addition yet.

“I always put my Christmas decorations up early but this year it was even earlier just because the weather has been so miserable,” said the Bristol native.

“I just love when it’s dark in the evening and you’ve got your Christmas lights on, I love this.

“On Sunday, I sent my son up into the loft to get the decorations out and he managed to get them all out. On Monday, I spent the day putting them all up.

“I’ve been putting my Christmas decorations up early for the last 35 years, since my eldest child was a baby.”

However, her partner was less than impressed with her jumpstart on decorating.

“Much to my fiancé’s disgust when he came in from work because he went absolutely mental and told me to take it all down and I told him it was staying up,” Tracey said.

“He can’t stand it. He did say to me on Monday night that next year we’re going to go away in September so I can’t put them up until at least October.

“I love it when I come back into the house. I can’t wait to get back from work and I turn all the lights on.

“I’ve got grandchildren. I sent my oldest grandchild a photo of all the decorations up on Monday and she said: ‘Nanny, you are crazy.’

“When guests come round, they say I’m mental. What they can’t understand is why I want all this clutter in my house. To me, it’s not cluttered and it’s displayed nicely.”

Tracey says it took her around three hours to deck out her living room with a collection of Christmas trees, lights, and festive ornaments.

Kennedy Newsand Media

Kennedy Newsand Media

The gran-of-eight says she hates Halloween and doesn’t celebrate it but finds Christmas “pretty” and loves coming home from work to see her house lit up with festive lights.

“I’m Christmas obsessed, I used to work in a school kitchen and I used to dress up as Father Christmas every year and the kids loved it,” Tracey said.

“I’ve got over 100 decorations in my house and these are things I’ve collected over the years. I try to add to the collection every year.

“I try to transform the living room into a Santa’s Grotto for the children.

“I’ve even already wrapped some of my Christmas presents as I buy these throughout the year for the grandchildren. They’re hidden away at the moment.

“I think the decorations are one of my favourite things about Christmas.”

Kennedy Newsand Media

Tracey explained that she wanted to put the decorations up before taking a trip at the end of September[/caption]

Kennedy Newsand Media

The homeowner said house guests often say she is mental for putting up her decorations so early[/caption]

ANTHONY JOSHUA and Daniel Dubois are days away from locking horns in front of a packed Wembley crowd – so it’s only right that there is a star-studded punditry team to match.

TNT Sports, Sky Sports AND Dazn will broadcast the huge all-British showdown.

PA

Anthony Joshua is all set to take on Daniel Dubois[/caption]

This means we could witness a record-breaking figure of people tuning in to see whether AJ can continue his impressive run.

Joshua, 34, hasn’t lost since his 2022 defeat against Oleksandr Uysk – the Francis Ngannou victory earlier this year made it five in a row.

While Dubois left his last opponent Filip Hrgovic with cuts under both eyes before securing a TKO win.

There’s no telling which way this thrilling bout will go with both itching to get their hands on the vacant IBF heavyweight belt.

But we do know who the punditry team will be, and SunSport can reveal all.

Who are the commentators and presenters for Joshua vs Dubois?

TNT Sports Box Office

TNT Sports Box Office has announced that TV favourite Laura Woods will be their main fight presenter.

Former boxing champions Carl Frampton and Lennox Lewis will join Woods along with pundit legend Steve Bunce.

While live commentary duties have been left in the safe hands of Darren Fletcher and Richie Woodhall.

DAZN

Mike Costello is the lead commentator for DAZN boxing coverage and will be the main man for AJ vs Dubois.

Sergio Mora, Todd Grisham and former WBC Cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew are also expected to be on the panel.

Sky Sports Box Office

Anna Woodhouse is the lead presenter for Sky Sports and is expected to be your lady on the mic for this huge fight.

Woodhouse will be joined by Adam Smith, Andy Scott, Johnny Nelson and Matt Macklin.

ANTHONY JOSHUA VS DANIEL DUBOIS: All the information you need ahead of huge world title fight at Wembley

What time is Joshua vs Dubois?

Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois will take place from approximately 10:45pm BST.

But this depends on the length of the undercard bouts.

TNT Sports Box Office, Sky Sports Box Office and DAZN will all broadcast the huge event.

Who else is on the Joshua vs Dubois card?

• Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois – for IBF heavyweight title
• Josh Kelly vs Liam Smith
• Joshua Buatsi vs Willy Hutchinson – for interim WBO light-heavyweight title
• Anthony Cacace vs Josh Warrington – for IBF and IBO super-featherweight title
• Tyler Denny vs Hamzah Sheeraz 
• Mark Chamberlain vs Josh Padley

COPS who swept Diddy’s Miami mansion have revealed the jailed music mogul could turn out to be as bad as Jeffrey Epstein.

Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly had rooms “dedicated to sex” in his Florida home with hidden cameras recording the acts, a Department of Homeland Security agent has revealed.

AP

Disgraced music mogul Diddy allegedly had rooms ‘dedicated to sex’ in his Miami mansion[/caption]

AP:Associated Press

Reuters

A court sketch of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs[/caption]

Combs, 54, has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him, including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

The charges allege Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfil his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct.”

The police source, who was apart of the mansion raid, also said they found sex toys, bondage gear and lingerie in many of the rooms.

These discoveries around the disgraced rap icon led to the source saying Diddy may be as bad as convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Epstein was accused of running a “vast network” using underage girls for sex on his private island.

Officers working on the sordid Diddy case say the similarities between his and Epstein’s allegations are becoming clearer to see, the New York Post reports.

The police source said: “In my opinion, he’s as bad as Jeffrey Epstein.

“These women are young. Either barely legal, or barely illegal.

“If you were in those sex parties, you were being recorded from every possible angle, including angles you wouldn’t have known about.”

Prosecutors accused Combs of using his business empire, under the name Combs Enterprise, to organise and cover up his alleged crimes.

Among the biggest bombshells revealed in the court indictment was Combs’ “Freak Offs” events.

At these “parties” he allegedly forced victims to have sex with hired sex workers while it was filmed on camera.

Freak Offs often involved drug usage to keep participants “obedient and compliant,” followed by IV fluids to help them recover afterwards, the charges allege.

Combs would then use the “sensitive, embarrassing, and incriminating” footage “as collateral to ensure the continued obedience and silence of the victims,” prosecutors claim.

In my opinion, he’s as bad as Jeffrey Epstein. These women are young. Either barely legal, or barely illegal

Police sourcespeaking on Diddy

Epstein, a popular US financier who had good connections with royalty, politicians and the rich and wealthy, was also jailed on sex trafficking charges.

He is said to have taken his own life in his prison cell 2019 while he awaited trial.

Combs’ arrest follows a months-long investigation into his alleged behaviors, during which raids were conducted on his homes in Los Angeles and Miami.

If Combs is convicted and receives the maximum sentence, he faces life in prison.

The minimum sentence is 15 years.

Diddy has lost two appeals for bail this week, despite making multiple promises of better behavior in exchange for his freedom.

Combs’ initial court appearance on Tuesday afternoon saw a judge order him to be held without bail, citing “very significant concerns” about his reported substance abuse and “anger issues.”

An appeal then led to Diddy’s three sons Quincy Brown, Christian “King” Combs, and Justin Combs co-signing a $50 million bail proposal.

A second judge on Wednesday once again denied the plea and ruled Diddy would remain jailed pending trial.

HORRIFIC JAIL

Combs is now being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York – a jail synonymous with rat infestations, violent outbreaks, and being understaffed.

The jail has a capacity of 1,600 inmates, often with celebrities among them.

Two of the most high profile inmates include fellow musician R Kelly  and Epstein’s alleged acquaintance Ghislaine Maxwell.

Maxwell infamously complained about the jail’s lack of drinkable water and bad stench.

Conditions are said to be so vile that the jail is now mostly used to hold inmates awaiting trial – such as Combs.

As part of his plea for Combs’ release on bail, Agnifilo also cited that “the conditions at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn are not fit for pre-trial detention,” in a letter to the court.

“Numerous courts in this district have raised concerns with the horrific conditions of detention here,” the lawyer continued, per NBC News.

The Mega Agency

Federal agents raiding one of Combs’ homes[/caption]

AFP

The infamous Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn[/caption]

THOUSANDS of workers at major retail stores will take a well-deserved Christmas break this year as more big name brands announce special closures.

High street favourites and supermarkets are among the names to have confirmed they will pull down the shutters on Boxing Day at all shops so staff don’t have to miss out on family time.

Getty

Big name shops are among the stores closing on December 26[/caption]

Almost all stores close up on Christmas Day, and traditionally Boxing Day has been a sales extravaganza as shoppers head out to cash in on cut-price goods.

But in recent years more retailers have been closing down on Decemeber 26, delayed customer shopping sprees by another day.

Boxing Day is a Bank Holiday which means hours are already reduced from normal opening hours.

Some stores may also close early on Christmas Eve and other days around the festive period so it’s worth double checking opening hours at this time to avoid a wasted trip out.

Check your local branch opening hours, you can usually do this on store locator tools on respective websites.

Here are the stores that have confirmed closures on Boxing Day…

ALDI

The discounter has said it will close on Boxing Day, as well as being shut on Christmas Day.

Richard Thornton, communications director at Aldi UK, said: “Christmas is such a special period for many of our colleagues, and by keeping our stores closed on Boxing Day, Aldi gives them more time to spend with their loved ones. 

“Customers will have plenty to look forward to in the run-up to Christmas, with exciting Christmas ranges hitting shelves in time for the festive season.”

It’s not the first time Aldi has closed on Boxing Day – the discounter has now shut up shop on December 26 for the past few years.

The Range and Wilko

The Range and Wilko are owned by parent company CDS Stores which has announced it will close all branches at both brands on December 25, as well the 26.

Alex Simpkin, chief executive officer for CDS, said: “This year’s been another great one for the business.

“We’re grateful to all our incredible team for their dedication and hard work and believe everyone deserves a well-earned rest during the festive season.

“So, in appreciation, we’ll be closing our stores on Boxing Day to give our team the opportunity to enjoy a full two-day break with their families.”

It comes after the brands were also closed last year on Boxing Day.

HOME BARGAINS

Home Bargains has told The Sun all 600 of its stores across the UK will remained closed on Boxing Day after Christmas.

At the same time, all branches will close earlier on Christmas Eve, with trading finishing at 5pm instead of the usual 8pm or 9pm.

The chain also confirmed that shops will be completely shut on New Year’s Day.

A spokesperson for Home Bargains said: “We know how hard all our colleagues have worked throughout the year.

“Being a family-run business, we recognise the importance of spending quality time with our loved ones.

“Therefore, we feel it is only right to support our valued store teams by giving them extended time off around Christmas and New Year.”

Home Bargains has closed on Boxing Day for the last four years.

John Lewis and Waitrose

The vast majority of Waitrose supermarkets and all standalone John Lewis stores will be shut on Christmas Day and stay closed the following day.

The John Lewis Partnership (JLP) which runs the two brands exclusively told The Sun it will shut on December 26.

More than 300 Waitrose branches and 33 John Lewis sites will be shut with just a handful of Waitrose shops attached to petrol stations will remain open on Boxing Day.

And only John Lewis shops within the Trafford and Stratford shopping centres will remain open.

The brand also closed on Boxing Day last year.

More stores are now expected to announce closures on Boxing Day over the coming weeks.

Last year DIY giants Wickes, Homebase and Screwfix all shut their branches on December 26, as well as supermarkets M&S and Lidl.

Poundland, which currently runs over 850 shops in the UK also closed on Boxing Day last year.

Keep an eye on favourite retailer on social media as many often publicise their festive opening hours on X and Facebook.

GEORGINA RODRIGUEZ has shown off a bold new look in the first glimpse of her Netflix series.

The stunning model is dating football star Cristiano Ronaldo and features in her own TV programme called “I am Georgina”.

Eroteme

Georgina Rodriguez has released a first look into her new Netflix series[/caption]

Eroteme

She stunned in a gold dress during the teaser[/caption]

Georgina, 30, starred in the first teaser trailer for the third season of the hit show.

She could be seen wearing two daring outfits, with the first being a figure-hugging dress with a newspaper pattern.

The second dress was a busty gold dress that left little to the imagination.

She also showed off her bold new look as her hair is now dyed blonde.

Georgina first showed off the new hair colour in a TikTok video of herself twerking to promote the series.

Fans flocked to social media full of excitement for the new reality series.

One posted: “My favourite trash TV is back.”

A second wrote: “Can’t wait.”

A third commented: “So excited!”

A fourth said: “The beautiful Georgina.”

The Mega Agency

Georgina Rodriguez recently attended the Venice Film Festival[/caption]

The Mega Agency

She stunned in a very busty dress[/caption]

The Mega Agency

She and Cristiano Ronaldo recently spent time in Saint Tropez[/caption]

Another added: “That dress is amazing.”

The programme follows Georgina around her daily life.

It shows how she juggles her life of being a mother and partner to Ronaldo.

It also gives an insight into her running her own business.

Georgina first met Ronaldo in 2016 when she was working at Gucci as a sales assistant.

The pair share two children together in Alana and Bella. 

But they tragically lost a baby boy who passed away during childbirth.

Georgina also cares for Ronaldo’s other three children — Cristiano Jr, Eva and Matteo.

The couple recently packed on the PDA as they took a trip to the south of France.

Ronaldo could be seen squeezing Georgina’s bum while a naked couple also sailed by them.

She then stole the show after attending the Venice Film Festival in Italy.

Inside the glamorous world of Georgina Rodriguez…

Instagram

instagram @georginagio

Instagram

She has over 50 million followers on Instagram[/caption]

The Mega Agency

She met Ronaldo whilst working as a shop girl at Dior[/caption]

EPA

She is now the mother to his five children, two of which Georgina is the maternal mother[/caption]

Georgina Rodriguez/instagram

Georgina now resides in Saudi Arabia follower her partner’s move to the country[/caption]

Instagram @georginagio

Georgina loves luxury holidays and can often be seen on mega yachts[/caption]

Refer to Caption

Boats are a big love of hers[/caption]

Georgina Rodríguez

She travels almost exclusively by private jet[/caption]

Getty

The Argentine beauty is a regularly at the Venice film festival where she can be seen turning heads[/caption]

Alamy

Georgina is loved by fashion magazines for her sense of style[/caption]

georginagio/Instagram

She models for a range of companies[/caption]

Instagram

Rodríguez has modelled for PrettyLittleThing lingerie[/caption]

The Federal Government has warned private-sector employers paying below the new N70,000 minimum wage to desist from the act. Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, gave the warning, on Wednesday, in Lagos, while speaking at the 13th Annual General Meeting of the Employers Association for Private Employment Agencies of Nigeria. […]