Pokemon USA threatens to sue cancer researchers

Nintendo subsidiary threatens legal action to keep scientists from referring to cancer-causing gene by the nickname "Pokemon."

In a January issue of the science journal Nature, Pier Paolo Pandolfi of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York described the cancer-causing POK erythroid myeloid ontogenic gene, calling it Pokemon in the process.

Not pleased by the rush of headlines proclaiming "Pokemon causes cancer," Pokemon USA threatened legal action against the center to have the name of its popular game and trading card series disassociated from the gene, reports the latest issue of Nature. The center has complied with Pokemon USA's demands, and now refers to the gene by the much less-catchy name Zbtb7, Nature reports.

This is not the first time researchers have dipped into the world of gaming for a research nickname. The Sonic hedgehog gene was named after Sega's speedy mascot in 1993. Sega has never sued over the matter, even though mutations in the developmental gene can lead to a number of brain and facial defects, including cyclopia.

130 Comments

  • Half-Ghost

    Posted Sep 18, 2007 4:10 pm PT

    Ok that's weird.

  • BIOShazard

    Posted Aug 1, 2007 5:48 pm PT

    Sonic is becoming a sellout to Nintendo and Sega, since Sonic has started on the price consuming Sony-PS3 and the almost as price consuming Microsoft-360. And Pokemon... well... they just aren't as popular as they used to be, but since the sinnoh gen, they just sunk, i mean, after giving them qualitys of the second gen, 3-D graphics, and the really old catch, defeat, and win the game... to boring.

  • HyperMetaDragon

    Posted May 19, 2007 11:53 pm PT

    Lol.

  • finaleve

    Posted May 8, 2007 1:16 am PT

    Sega don't care, Sonic is out on a limb right now

  • drekula

    Posted Apr 1, 2007 11:58 am PT

    Pokemon doesn't care. They just want money.

  • TombaYuri

    Posted Jan 11, 2007 10:37 pm PT

    Pokemon in Japanese is pocket monster.
    Pokemon in English means there is literally a monster in your pocket, or rather, testicles.

  • wingzero2512

    Posted Jan 26, 2006 9:24 am PT

    pikachu is overrated period. charmander 4 lyph

  • boo_dat

    Posted Jan 24, 2006 2:02 am PT

    I think this Nintendo Subsidary needs to take a chill pill and enjoy a big bowl of brown

  • Snoop_trizzle

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 7:13 pm PT

    LOL, this is rediculous

  • MegaKnightX

    Posted Jan 23, 2006 7:33 am PT

    That must really suck for Sega for not sueing over the usage of their beloved hedghog in a gene research.

  • revo_360

    Posted Jan 19, 2006 4:00 pm PT

    "I'm sure Bill, but you have Pokemon."

    "What?"

    Wow, that is too hilarious. Pokemon causes cancer, that's a first.

  • MoodyFlame

    Posted Jan 15, 2006 10:30 am PT

    Quote--This is pretty histerical but for obvious reasons can understand why they don't want people referring to cancer as pokemon.--End Quote

    i see your point

  • rohan_bhanot200

    Posted Jan 15, 2006 7:24 am PT

    man! what the hell are they thinking?

  • MgunHunter

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 5:22 pm PT

    Oh no! I caught Cancer!!!

  • Tuddytudman

    Posted Jan 13, 2006 5:17 am PT

    ...gotta not catch em all now, huh? you'll probably get cancer from them...

  • wizkid333

    Posted Jan 7, 2006 10:16 am PT

    what about Pik-ACHOO?

    Wizkid

  • xpdude

    Posted Jan 7, 2006 4:10 am PT

    Can't really catch 'em all now, eh?

  • Darkthunderbolt

    Posted Jan 2, 2006 4:44 am PT

    Stupid cancer researchers they say almost every thing you practically do causes cancer and now they some silly little poket monsters that make funny noises can causes cancer in side of our body. What next are they going to say watching t.v. causes cancer and if they say that I'll definitenly summon a pikachu all right but this pikachu will be beating the tar out of you stupid cancer researchers.

  • tigerfan17

    Posted Dec 31, 2005 10:01 am PT

    I knew it all along.

  • dhfial1

    Posted Dec 30, 2005 1:57 pm PT

    Listen up, you stupid pokemon-haters. The Pokemon company makes GOOD RPG's. So why don't you just shut up and keep your Pokemon-related comments to yourself. Honestly, you guys act like a bunch of babies.
    "Hey look at me, I'm STUPID! I hate Pokemon! I'm so dumb!" Yeesh. You're just losers for that, too. Oh, and that includes you, as well, Digital-Devil. It's idiots like you that give Pokemon-lovers like me a bad name.

  • saturos

    Posted Dec 30, 2005 1:01 am PT

    Darn stupid thing ruined my story bunched it all together T_T

  • saturos

    Posted Dec 30, 2005 12:55 am PT

    Ash: HAHA we got that behmoth! Pikachu scratch attack!-
    PIkachu: Pika?;/-
    Brock: what are u hoping to accomplish by this Ash?!?!? I realy dont think this CHarizard needs back scratcher....-
    Ash: Silly Brock bet Havn't heard about that new POK erythroid myeloid ontogenic gene?-
    Misty: Ash ketchum have u gone mad !?-
    Ash: Watch and learn! Pikachu Scratch ATTACCKKK!!!!-
    Pikachu: pi-i-i-k-a-a-a-chu!-
    Brock: WTF is that thing Boldjing outt've's that charizards neck now! Is he growing limbs or somthing!?!?-
    Charizard: CCCHhhaaarrIIIZaaaarrdd aaaaaaahhhh(with weak battle cry)-
    Brock:Omg!! Ash this is not very ethical..the charizard looks like hes turning into that flood monster from your Halo game.-
    Ash: POKEBALL GO! aaaaahahahhah Victory!!!! good job POK"emog" Pikachu!-
    Pikachuika Pika! (8D)-
    Misty: WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU ASH!?! YOU BETTER NOT PULL SOMTHING LIKE THAT AGAIN OR I WILL TELL YOUR MOTHER!-
    Ash:Oh! i don't think you will!-with a grin twoards Pikachu

  • nestea_king

    Posted Dec 29, 2005 7:20 pm PT

    Thats what happens when you get too close to a Kangaskhan....

  • Miguel1985

    Posted Dec 27, 2005 4:55 pm PT

    No!!! Leave my Pokemon alone!!!!!!

  • Carl0009

    Posted Dec 26, 2005 2:18 pm PT

    Darn this is STUPID!! Instead of telling them to change the name (I am pretty sure that they didn't put that name to give pokemon bad image, i bet they don't even now that pokemon EXIST! they don't watch Cartoons, they try to cure sickness, now the thing is called POK ................ its is very similar to POKEMON, so is just a coincidence they don't give a dime about nintendo they care curing sickness because THAT is what they are doing as a living)

    They just have to sue those guys that didn't know that the stupid show existed, that just was rushed......... makes me regret of buying a GC

  • IhateMario

    Posted Dec 26, 2005 7:52 am PT

    I knew that Pokemon popularity grew too quickly for a video game!

  • tytytheman

    Posted Dec 26, 2005 12:54 am PT

    LOL!!! Now thats funny!

  • eyerok

    Posted Dec 24, 2005 10:57 am PT

    actually it isnt really funny...kinda sad

  • eyerok

    Posted Dec 24, 2005 10:57 am PT

    ha ha

  • Alex_brewmaster

    Posted Dec 22, 2005 10:35 pm PT

    Pokemon=1# Cancer Problem?
    LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL!!

    "I will not end this sig until 100 people PM me the words Pikachu Bites!
    current count: 1."

  • krazykazmikaze

    Posted Dec 22, 2005 8:16 pm PT

    ....hmmm Pokemon causes cancer?

  • Viddio

    Posted Dec 21, 2005 2:59 pm PT

    "These scientists are geniouses trying to change the world and they're going to try and sue them?"

    Because we all know cancer-researchers are all "geniouses".

    This newspost is full of crappy "OMG POKEMON CAUSES CANCER LOL" comments. It's Pokémon for a start and second of all, you've just repeated what was said in the post. Well, bloody, done.

    Also, this isn't directed towards one person, there's too many to specify and it's nothing beyond a threat anyway, Nintendo probably wouldn't sue.

  • krr0814

    Posted Dec 21, 2005 7:16 am PT

    lmao pokemon causes cancer

    nintendo should do a commercial like this

    doctor: sir im afraid to tell you this but you have pokemon

    man: sweet

    now you to can catch pokemon

    pokemon diamond and pearl only on the nintendo ds

  • ChupacabraIII

    Posted Dec 21, 2005 2:07 am PT

    gives new meaning to the term "pokerus"

  • funkchild75

    Posted Dec 20, 2005 11:33 pm PT

    That is jive funny...

  • videogamr49

    Posted Dec 20, 2005 9:27 pm PT

    I was wondering when they would sue over it.

  • Vash67

    Posted Dec 20, 2005 4:07 pm PT

    Everyone wants to sue nowadays....

  • snoop4x

    Posted Dec 20, 2005 11:15 am PT

    It would seem that games are always the escapegoat of many "things" nowadays.

  • Kwiksilva

    Posted Dec 20, 2005 9:45 am PT

    Hey if i was a company trying to make money off of my products I wouldn't want my name associated with cancer either.

  • seanlyger

    Posted Dec 20, 2005 8:15 am PT

    I've never heard of a more apalling tragedy that I cared so little about.

  • Dahok

    Posted Dec 20, 2005 7:57 am PT

    wow simply stunning. i dont which is the greater fool. im sure that lil blob of flying sh@t weezing gave someone cancer they just trying to keep it hush hush : p.

  • visor123

    Posted Dec 20, 2005 7:47 am PT

    Why sue? They can settle it peacefully.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Dec 20, 2005 6:46 am PT

    oh noze!!! teh poke-cancer!!!11

  • ewjim

    Posted Dec 20, 2005 6:32 am PT

    I knew from begining - Pokemon bad and evil!!! >_< Good name for cancer gene!

  • SavoyPrime

    Posted Dec 20, 2005 6:18 am PT

    That's funny.

  • Tuddytudman

    Posted Dec 20, 2005 4:47 am PT

    wow! no wonder everyone was acring like zombies when pokemon was popular. I perfered the sonic games to pokemon, so I didn't "catch em all". Now I don't wanna go on my copy of emerald (which I recieved as a birthday present, btw)

  • Igiss

    Posted Dec 20, 2005 12:37 am PT

    Evil pokemon hating doctor takes his revenge agains world pokemon domination! Be aware.

  • dinomatic

    Posted Dec 20, 2005 12:10 am PT

    this is funny i guess people now will say stay away from them all.......ha ha!

  • nemes1s3000

    Posted Dec 19, 2005 11:17 pm PT

    This is a joke right? ...right?

  • chemwizard

    Posted Dec 19, 2005 9:19 pm PT

    Thats pretty low of Nintendo to be so heavy handed from the get-go. Sure, having a cancer oncogene named after one of their premier franchises may not be cool from a publicity point of view, but consider: they are cancer researchers, you know trying to improve our lives and I think Pokemon has run its course anyways, as each new installment is the same, recycled garbage. Nintendo should spend their money on developing newer games or in overhauling older series' games, not in pursuing every little percieved 'infringement' on its properties.

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