User:Stache/Patents
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This is a list of patents that were filed by Nintendo and their associated companies for gameplay mechanics used in Super Mario games. A patent is a type of intellectual property that gives its owner the legal right to exclude others from making, using, or selling an invention for a limited period of time in exchange for publishing an enabling disclosure of the invention. This list is categorized by series, then sorted chronologically by the games' release date, and the earliest date of which the patent was applied for. Some games may also list the patent numbers in their copyright notices.
Super Mario series
| Patent numbers | Inventors | Date of application | Date granted | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 US6283857B1 |
Shigeru Miyamoto Yasunari Nishida Takumi Kawagoe Yoshiaki Koizumi |
May 19, 1997 | September 4, 2001 | Expired | Virtual camera system in Super Mario 64 |
| US6139433A, US6454652B2, US20020115486A1 |
Shigeru Miyamoto Yasunari Nishida Takumi Kawagoe Yoshiaki Koizumi |
June 5, 1997 July 26, 2001 January 23, 2002 |
October 31, 2000 September 24, 2002 |
Expired | Main gameplay elements of Super Mario 64 |
 JP4679043B2 US20050009610A1 |
Shigeru Miyamoto Hiroyuki Kimura Kiyoshi Koda |
July 7, 2003 July 9, 2004 |
April 27, 2011 Abandoned |
Active | Level card system in Super Mario Advance 4: Super Mario Bros. 3 |
| US8282454B2 |
Shigeru Miyamoto Hiroyuki Kimura Shigeyuki Asuke |
September 29, 2010 | March 29, 2012 | Active | Bubble mechanic in New Super Mario Bros. Wii |
JP6670554B2 EP2527017B1 US8628391B2, US9561435B2, US9579566B2 |
Hiroyuki Kimura Masataka Takemoto |
May 24, 2011 January 24, 2012 January 26, 2012 August 5, 2013 |
January 14, 2014 February 7, 2017 February 28, 2017 March 2, 2016 January 3, 2018 |
Active | Course Maker in Super Mario Maker |
| JP5876229B2 US10162484B2 |
Yoshikazu Yamashita Yosuke Oshino Hideyuki Tatsuta Noritaka Otsuka |
June 12, 2015 October 20, 2015 |
December 25, 2018 March 25, 2020 |
Active | Course World in Super Mario Maker |
| JP7513370B2, JP7344354B2 US10668380B2 EP3406311A1 |
Wataru Tanaka | May 23, 2017 July 22, 2022 April 5, 2018 April 20, 2018 |
June 2, 2020 September 13, 2023 July 9, 2024 |
Active | Cap throwing mechanic in Super Mario Odyssey |
| JP7001366B2 US10661178B2 |
Wataru Tanaka Rikuto Yoshida |
May 25, 2017 March 29, 2018 |
May 26, 2020 January 19, 2022 |
Active | Capture mechanic in Super Mario Odyssey |
| JP6871880B2 US10688395B2 |
Yosuke Oshino Yusaku Shimizu |
March 16, 2018 March 15, 2019 |
June 23, 2020 May 19, 2021 |
Active | Slope mechanic in Super Mario Maker 2 |
| JP6944923B2 US10981065B2 |
Yosuke Oshino Fumiya Nakano |
December 20, 2018 March 27, 2019 |
April 20, 2021 October 6, 2021 |
Active | Clear Conditions system in Super Mario Maker 2 |
| JP7170006B2 US11331573B2 |
Hirohito Yoshimoto Tomohiro Kawase |
March 4, 2020 October 22, 2020 |
May 17, 2022 November 11, 2022 |
Active | Digital clock animations on Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. |
| JP7312721B2 US10981065B2, US12128315B2, US20250083053A1 |
Yuhei Ariyama Fumiya Nakano |
April 3, 2020 March 29, 2021 January 17, 2023 September 23, 2024 |
July 21, 2023 February 6, 2024 October 29, 2024 |
Active | World Maker in Super Mario Maker 2, including a system that detect inappropriate words and symbols |
| JP7514116B2, JP7514117B2 US11369875B2, US11691077B2, US11759710B2, US12179109B2 |
Ryuichi Nakada Akira Kinashi |
June 18, 2020 April 21, 2021 July 4, 2023 May 25, 2022 August 7, 2023 |
June 28, 2022 September 19, 2023 December 31, 2024 July 10, 2024 |
Active | Main gameplay elements in Super Mario Bros. 35 |
| JP7514118B2 US11731051B2 |
Ryuichi Nakada Akira Kinashi |
June 18, 2020 April 21, 2021 |
August 22, 2023 July 10, 2024 |
Active | Sending enemies in Super Mario Bros. 35 |
Super Mario Run
| Patent numbers | Inventors | Date of application | Date granted | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JP6543345B2, JP6588983B2 WO2018042466A1, WO2018042467A1 US10434411B2, US10603589B2, US11285389B2 |
Shigeru Miyamoto Takashi Tezuka Masanobu Sato |
August 31, 2016 August 31, 2016 August 4, 2017 February 26, 2020 |
July 10, 2019 October 9, 2019 October 8, 2019March 31, 2020 March 29, 2022 |
Active | Main gameplay mechanics, including vaulting and various blocks |
| JP6442061B2 WO2018042468A1 US10729982B2, US11298620B2 |
Hideki Konno | September 1, 2016 September 1, 2016 August 4, 2017 June 26, 2020 |
December 19, 2018 August 4, 2020 April 12, 2022 |
Active | Toad Rally |
JP6114460B1 CN106938142B EP3332850A1 US10335684B2 |
Masanobu Sato Naoto Katsura |
December 6, 2016 January 25, 2017 May 29,2017 May 30, 2017 |
March 13, 2018 June 14, 2018 July 2, 2019 |
Active | Vaulting Jump |
| JP6592481B2 US10695676B2 |
Shigeru Miyamoto Takashi Tezuka Norihito Ito Yugo Hayashi |
July 31, 2017 July 13, 2018 |
October 16, 2019 June 30, 2020 |
Active | Remix 10 |
| JP6705781B2 US10665058B2, US11158165B2 |
Norihito Ito Hirokazu Matsuura Yugo Hayashi |
August 1, 2017 July 13, 2018 April 17, 2020 |
May 26, 2020 October 26, 2021 June 3, 2020 |
Active | Bonus Game and Super Bonus Game in Remix 10 |
Super Mario Bros. Wonder
| Patent numbers | Inventors | Date of application | Date granted | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP7579911B2, JP2025010248A CN119075313A US20240408490A1 |
Shiro Mouri Masanobu Sato |
June 6, 2023 October 24, 2024 January 1, 2024 March 28, 2024 |
November 8, 2024 Pending Pending |
Active | Wonder Effect |
| JP7611304B2, JP2023166361A, JP2025028382A US20240424401A1, US20240424392A1 |
Ryuhei Matsuura Ayano Masaki Shiro Mouri Shigeyuki Asuke Hajime Nakao Koichi Hayashida Moe Shirataki Terumasa Kato Tatsuya Sakai Jun Tsuzuki |
June 6, 2023 June 19, 2023 January 15, 2025 June 18, 2024 |
January 9, 2025 Pending |
Active | Ghost form and Standees |
| JP7622140B2, JP2025039832A US20240408489A1 |
Ryuhei Matsuura Mai Yamamoto Ryota Irie Shigeyuki Asuke Hajime Nakao |
June 8, 2023 September 24, 2024 March 28, 2024 |
January 27, 2025 Pending |
Active | How off-screen players are handled during local multiplayer session |
| JP7561919B2, JP2024180406A US20240416237A1 |
Shiro Mouri Mai Yamamoto |
June 15, 2023 September 24, 2024 January 2, 2024 |
October 4, 2024 Pending |
Active | Badge system |
| JP7626799B2, JP7594636B2, JP2025065172A US20240416230A1, US20250041722A1 |
Hajime Nakao Kojiro Taguchi Takeshi Wakasugi Mahito Idehara |
June 19, 2023 August 2, 2023 January 23, 2025 June 18, 2024June 20, 2024 |
December 12, 2024 February 4, 2025 Pending |
Active | World map in multiplayer session |
| JP2023166356A US20240416238A1 |
Ryuhei Matsuura Masanobu Sato |
June 19, 2023 September 24, 2024 June 18, 2024 |
Pending Pending |
Active | Local multiplayer gameplay |
| JP7626809B2 US20250041735A1 |
Ryuhei Matsuura | August 2, 2023 August 1, 2024 |
February 4, 2025 Pending |
Active | Friend Race |
Dr. Mario series
| Patent numbers | Inventors | Date of application | Date granted | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
JP2775334B2 AU646258B2, AU661569B2 CA2045072C GB2245186B DE4120556C2 FR2663767B1 KR0126463B1 US5265888A |
Masao Yamamoto Takahiro Harada Masaru Yamanaka |
June 22, 1990 June 17, 1991 April 22, 1993 June 20, 1991 June 21, 1991 June 21, 1991 June 21, 1991 June 22, 1991 February 19, 1993 |
November 30, 1993 February 17, 1994 July 27, 1995 June 8, 1994 October 10, 1996 September 26, 1997 December 24, 1997 July 16, 1998 January 18, 2000 |
Expired | Main gameplay elements of Dr. Mario |
| JP6970712B2 US11278811B2 |
Kazuki Yoshihara Naonori Oonishi Hiroaki Hiruma Soojin Lee Taehoon Jun Taewoo Kim |
June 14, 2019 June 11, 2020 |
November 24, 2021 March 22, 2022 |
Active | Capsule movements in Dr. Mario World |
| JP7601572B2 US11617956B2 |
Kazuki Yoshihara Shinji Takei Soonbae Hwang Sungyong Kim Buhyun Cho Jinung Ju |
June 24, 2020 April 27, 2021 |
April 4, 2023 December 17, 2024 |
Active | Doctors' skill system in Dr. Mario World |
| JP7491732B2 US11207603B2 |
Kazuki Yoshihara Soojin Lee Taehoon Jun Taewoo Kim |
May 12, 2020 June 4, 2020 |
December 28, 2021 May 28, 2024 |
Active | Versus mode in Dr. Mario World |
Mario Kart series
| Patent numbers | Inventors | Date of application | Date granted | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP6180802B2, JP2014236874A, JP6533368B2, JP6442155B2, JP2015013102A US9682312B2, US9776085B2, US9682312B2 |
Yusuke Shiraiwa Kenta Sato Shoichi Obayashi Ryuhei Matsuura Mai Yamamoto |
June 7, 2013 April 23, 2014 October 11, 2013 |
June 20, 2017 September 12, 2017 October 3, 2017 August 16, 2017December 19, 2018 June 19, 2019 |
Active | Mario Kart TV in Mario Kart 8 |
| JP7016901B2 US11291923B2 EP3881916B1 CN214344425U |
Shinji Hirose Kosuke Nakamura Hiroki Ikuta Masaki Amano Takaki Fujino |
March 19, 2020 August 26, 2020 August 31, 2020 February 7, 2021 |
October 8, 2021 February 7, 2022 April 5, 2022 July 20, 2022 |
Active | Design of the RC racer for Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit |
| JP1693203S USD984547S1 |
Takaki Fujino Yu Yamamoto Motoaki Fukuda |
August 24, 2020 December 28, 2020 |
August 23, 2021 April 25, 2023 |
Active | Exterior design of the RC racer for Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit |
| JP2024068952A US20240149166A1 |
Shun Utsugi Miyuki Kimura |
November 9, 2019 October 12, 2023 |
Pending Pending |
Pending | Invincibility state after crashing |
| JP2025082375A, JP2025082376A CN120019835A, CN120019836A US2025161804A1, US2025161805A1 |
Takeshi Miyamoto Shintaro Jikumaru |
November 17, 2023 November 13, 2024 November 15, 2024 |
Pending Pending Pending |
Pending | Rail and Wall Riding in Mario Kart World |
| JP2025082801A US2025161823A |
Kosuke Yabuki Shoichi Obayashi Masahiro Nakamura Masashi Onishi |
July 31, 2024 Septtember 3, 2024 |
Pending Pending |
Pending | Route system and Knockout Tour in Mario Kart World |
Mario Kart Tour
| Patent numbers | Inventors | Date of application | Date granted | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP7083822B2 CN110662587B WO2018216079A1 EP3449985B1 US11117048B2 |
Kosuke Yabuki Takeshi Miyamoto Shigeto Murata Shinya Nakano |
May 22, 2017 May 22, 2017 May 22, 2017 November 19, 2019 |
September 14, 2021 June 13, 2022 January 23, 2024 May 1, 2024 |
Active | Kart controls |
| JP6921193B2, JP7150108B2 WO2018216080A1 EP3608002A4 US11071911B2 |
Kosuke Yabuki Takeshi Miyamoto Shigeto Murata Shinya Nakano |
May 22, 2017 July 27, 2021 May 22, 2017 May 22, 2017 November 20, 2019 |
July 27, 2021 August 18, 2021 October 7, 2022 |
Active | Drifting |
| JP6921192B2, JP2021168972A, JP7496013B2 CN110678238B WO2018216078A1 EP3441120A4 US11198058B2 |
Kosuke Yabuki Takeshi Miyamoto Shigeto Murata Shinya Nakano |
May 22, 2017 July 27, 2021 April 24, 2023 May 22, 2017 May 22, 2017 May 22, 2017 November 18, 2019 |
August 18, 2021 June 5, 2024 December 14, 2021 October 1, 2024 |
Active | Drifting |
| JP6935361B2, JP6854972B2, JP7262533B2, JP7082699B2, JP7241835B2 CN112074331B, CN118987600A, CN110433490B, CN117695653A EP3789091B1 WO2019211950A1 US11103784B2, US11045736B2, US11484783B2, US11673043B2 |
Yugo Hayashi Issei Takahashi Shigeto Murata Shinya Nakano Kosuke Yabuki Ryoma Aoki |
May 2, 2018 March 15, 2019 March 16, 2021 August 25, 2021 September 28, 2021 March 15, 2019April 26, 2019 March 15, 2019 March 15, 2019 April 25, 2019September 30, 2020 September 20, 2022 |
April 7, 2021 September 15, 2021 June 8, 2022 March 17, 2023 April 21, 2023 June 29, 2021August 31, 2021 November 1, 2022 June 13, 2023 July 17, 2024 April 30, 2024August 8, 2024 |
Active | Item system, Frenzy mode, and shop |
| JP7304695B2, JP7551851B2 US11439903B2 |
Yugo Hayashi Miyuki Kimura Shinya Fujiwara Kyosuke Shimokawa Hiroaki Tamura |
December 26, 2018 June 27, 2023 December 20, 2019 |
September 13, 2022 July 7, 2023 September 17, 2024 |
Active | Race points system |
| JP7391514B2 US11202959B2 |
Yugo Hayashi Shinya Fujiwara |
January 22, 2019 January 21, 2020 |
December 21, 2021 December 5, 2023 |
Active | Drivers, favored courses, and gacha system |
| JP7034118B2 US11179636B2 |
Miyuki Kimura | May 16, 2019 April 14, 2020 |
November 23, 2021 March 11, 2022 |
Active | In-game race and item system |
| JP7068250B2 US11587401B2 |
Kosuke Yabuki Yugo Hayashi Masayuki Okada |
September 19, 2019 August 25, 2020 |
May 16, 2022 February 21, 2023 |
Active | Cup system and tour gifts (before version 2.4.0) |
| JP7044818B2 US11534693B2 |
Kosuke Yabuki Yugo Hayashi Shinya Fujiwara |
February 28, 2020 February 17, 2021 |
March 30, 2022 December 27, 2022 |
Active | Cup system (before version 2.1.0), tour gifts (before version 2.4.0), and multiplayer mode (before version 3.0.0) |
| CN113908527A EP3936205A1 US11590413B2, US11577157B2 |
Yoshinori Konishi Tadashi Matsushita Daiji Imai Yugo Hayashi Mariko Fukui |
July 8, 2020 | February 14, 2023 February 28, 2023 Pending Pending |
Active | Gameplay in landscape orientation |
| JP7492895B2 US11628357B2 |
Miyuki Kimura Ryosuke Ogata Erika Abe |
October 9, 2020 September 3, 2021 |
April 18, 2023 May 30, 2024 |
Active | Auto mode |
| JP7499149B2 US11707681B2 |
Daiji Imai Hiroaki Tamura Takahiro Iwasaki Kenichiro Yoshioka |
October 28, 2020 September 3, 2021 |
July 25, 2023 June 13, 2024 |
Active | Team Rally |
| JP7425764B2, JP2023164759A US11638877B2, US12102922B2 |
Yugo Hayashi Ryosuke Ogata |
March 19, 2021 September 25, 2023 June 14, 2021March 13, 2023 |
May 2, 2023 October 1, 2024 December 21, 2023 |
Active | Today's Challenge mode and cup system |
| JP2023125760A US20230277945A1 |
Yugo Hayashi Kosuke Yabuki |
February 28, 2022 February 27, 2023 |
Pending Pending |
Pending | Mii Racing Suits |
Super Mario sports games
| Patent numbers | Inventors | Date of application | Date granted | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP6048784B2 US8591342B2 |
Hiroyuki Takahashi Shugo Takahashi Yusuke Sugimoto |
February 16, 2012 December 13, 2012 |
November 26, 2013 December 21, 2016 |
Active | Online play in Mario Tennis Open |
| JP6061262B2 US9409085B2 |
Tomomi Sano Toshiharu Izuno Tomohiro Yamamura Hiroyuki Takahashi Shugo Takahashi Haruki Kodera Shuji Shimizu |
February 16, 2012 December 11, 2012 |
August 9, 2016 January 18, 2017 |
Active | Super Mario Tennis in Mario Tennis Open |
| JP6843499B2 US20170118295A1 |
Tomohiro Yamamura Toshiharu Izuno |
October 21, 2015 March 15, 2016 |
March 17, 2021 Abandoned |
Active | Online play and amiibo Training in Mario Tennis: Ultra Smash |
| JP6977931B2 EP3505220A1 US10881959B2 |
Hiroyuki Takahashi Shugo Takahashi Toshiharu Izuno Tomohiro Yamamura Tomoyoshi Yamane |
December 28, 2017 December 11, 2018 December 11, 2018 |
January 5, 2021 December 8, 2021 |
Active | Zone Shot system in Mario Tennis Aces |
| JP7540902B2 US12023586B2 |
Tomohiro Yamamura Kodai Matsumoto Shinya Saito Hiroyuki Takahashi Shugo Takahashi |
June 2, 2020 May 26, 2021 |
July 2, 2024 August 27, 2024 |
Active | Speed Golf in Mario Golf: Super Rush |
| JP7592474B2 US11925865B2 |
Tomohiro Yamamura Kodai Matsumoto Shinya Saito Hiroyuki Takahashi Shugo Takahashi |
December 2, 2020 October 6, 2021 |
March 12, 2024 December 2, 2024 |
Active | Main gameplay mechanics in Mario Golf: Super Rush |
| JP7540902B2 EP4011466A1 US11707678B2 |
Tomohiro Yamamura Kodai Matsumoto Shinya Saito Hiroyuki Takahashi Shugo Takahashi |
February 15, 2021 November 24, 2021 December 3, 2021 |
July 25, 2023 March 3, 2025 Pending |
Active | Terrain scanning in Mario Golf: Super Rush |
| JP2023110586A, JP7402904B2 US20230241510A1, US20230302363A1 |
Yoshihito Ikebata | January 28, 2022 December 30, 2022 |
December 21, 2023 Pending |
Active | Strikers Club, stadium, and item systems in Mario Strikers: Battle League |
| JP7463413B2, JP7474794B2 US20230241506A1, US20230241505A1 |
Yoshihito Ikebata Theresa Melo |
January 31, 2022 December 30, 2022 |
April 8, 2024 April 25, 2024 Pending |
Active | Main gameplay mechanics in Mario Strikers: Battle League, including gear system and Hyper Strike |
Paper Mario series
| Patent numbers | Inventors | Date of application | Date granted | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP6709066B2 US10258885B2 |
Kensuke Tanabe Yukio Morimoto Kaoru Kita |
February 19, 2016 January 31, 2017 |
April 16, 2019 June 10, 2020 |
Active | Battle Cards in Paper Mario: Color Splash |
| JP7220616B2 US10967265B2 |
Masahiko Nagaya Koichi Kishi Takeshi Ando |
April 19, 2019 February 6, 2020 |
April 6, 2021 February 10, 2023 |
Active | Toad Radar in Paper Mario: The Origami King |
| JP7159104B2 US10946289B2 |
Kensuke Tanabe | April 24, 2019 January 31, 2020 |
March 16, 2021 October 24, 2022 |
Active | Combat system in Paper Mario: The Origami King |
Luigi's Mansion series
| Patent numbers | Inventors | Date of application | Date granted | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8376849B2, US9022864B2 JP5947111B2 EP2529814A3, EP2529815A3 |
Harold Bruce Westlund Yoshihito Ikebata Ryuichi Nakada |
June 3, 2011 January 31, 2012 May 25, 2012 June 4, 2012 |
February 19, 2013 May 5, 2015 July 6, 2016 Withdrawn |
Active | Handling of object visibility for stereoscopic 3D view in Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon |
| JP6975191B2 US11633664B2 |
Satoshi Kira Yoshihito Ikebata Bryce Holliday Christopher Rice Jeffrie Wu |
February 27, 2019 October 10, 2019 |
December 1, 2021 April 25, 2023 |
Active | Co-operative gameplay with Gooigi in Luigi's Mansion 3 |
Mario vs. Donkey Kong series
| Patent numbers | Inventors | Date of application | Date granted | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8212820B2 |
Yukimi Shimura Yoonjoon Lee Steven Petoflavi |
August 14, 2006 | July 3, 2012 | Active | Pink Blocks and main gameplay controls in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Minis March Again! |
| US8388447B2, US8747231B2 |
Wing Cho Yukimi Shimura Akiya Sakamoto Yoshihito Ikebata |
June 14, 2011 March 4, 2013 |
March 5, 2013 June 10, 2014 |
Active | Challenge mode in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!'s Construction Zone mode |
| US8823733B2, US9436364B2 |
Yukimi Shimura Dean Russell Steven Petoflavi Brian McNeely Rory Johnston Yoonjoon Lee |
June 14, 2011 August 20, 2014 |
September 2, 2014 September 6, 2016 |
Active | Blockers in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem! |
| US8821234B2, US9814983B2 |
Rory Johnston Vivek Melwani Stephen Mortimer Yukimi Shimura |
September 30, 2011 July 30, 2014 |
September 2, 2014 November 14, 2017 |
Active | Slopes in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!'s Construction Zone mode |
| US9292948B2, US10176613B2 |
Rory A. Johnston | November 23, 2011 March 18, 2016 |
March 22, 2016 January 8, 2019 |
Active | Placing girders and ladders in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Mini-Land Mayhem!'s Construction Zone mode |
| JP6550216B2 US10289986B2 |
Akiya Sakamoto Takayoshi Sato Norihito Ito Stephen Mortimer |
August 1, 2014 May 29, 2015 |
May 14, 2019 July 29, 2019 |
Active | Community mode in Mario vs. Donkey Kong: Tipping Stars |
Donkey Kong Bananza
| Patent numbers | Inventors | Date of application | Date granted | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2025242263A1 |
Tatsuya Kurihara | December 30, 2024 | Pending | Pending | Main gameplay mechanics |
| US2025242252A1 |
Akane Yoshida Atsushi Ueno |
January 29, 2025 | Pending | Pending | Generation of Fractone's body |
