The Pokémon Company in Japan is taking action against the sales of replica and metal Pokémon cards on online marketplaces. As a popular way to collect rare cards at a lower price, replica cards have become increasingly common in the Pokémon Trading Card Game (TCG) community. However, these cards are not legal to play with and often have noticeable differences from authentic cards. Metal Pokémon cards, which are purchased primarily as art pieces for display, are also being targeted by the crackdown.
The Pokémon Company argues that the sales of these cards threaten the integrity of TCG products and infringe upon trademarks and copyrighted materials related to Pokémon TCG. This effort to curb counterfeits is currently focused on Japan, with monitoring taking place on Japan-based auction sites. However, there is a possibility that the initiative could expand globally in the future.
Counterfeit cards have long been a problem in the Pokémon TCG and other card games. By removing more sellers from online platforms, it is hoped that the circulation of these fake cards will decrease. It remains to be seen if the crackdown will also address customs, which are cards made to resemble Pokémon cards but with custom artwork.
In conclusion, the Pokémon Company is cracking down on the sale of replica and metal Pokémon cards on online marketplaces in Japan. With the aim of protecting product integrity and safeguarding trademarks and copyrighted materials, the company will not only request the removal of these listings but also pursue legal action against offenders. By addressing the issue of counterfeits, it is hoped that the Pokémon TCG community will see a reduction in the presence of these fraudulent cards.
Source: Ryan Galloway, Dot Esports.
