Well we have recently heard that a friend's Pokemon fan site was requested shut-down.. It appears that Nintendo of Europe (NoE) has served a Cease and Desist letter to them.

The site, Pokemon Safari, is in Spanish and fairly popular with the fans. Here is an excerpt from the C&D as posted on their page:

Estimado Señor,

Nos ponemos en contacto con usted en nombre y repesentación,y por encargo específico de nuestros clientes NINTENDO ESPAÑA,S.A .y su matriz NINTENDO CO,LTD titular de la marca POKEMON (marca nacional denominativa con gráfico nº M 2141090 - 2141104, para las clases 3, 9, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 35, 41 y 42) y demás derechos de propiedad industrial e intelectual de los sistemas de hardware y software para sus videoconsolas Nintendo Wii,Nintendo DS, Nintendo DS Lite ("NINTENDO").

NINTENDO ha tenido noticia de que a través de su página Web www.pokemon-safari.com se estaría realizando un uso inconsentido y por tanto ilícito de la marca "POKEMON",asi como de otros derechos de propiedad industrial e intelectual de NINTENDO.

Por todo lo anterior y por medio de la presente, le requerimos formalmente para que cese con carácter inmediato en el uso inconsentido de las anteriores marcas propiedad de Nintendo,así como se abstenga de realizar o desarrollar cualquier actividad que pueda perjudicar los legítimos intereses de los usuarios de los productos originales de NINTENDO.

Todo ello sin perjuicio de reservarse NINTENDO en todo caso el ejercicio de las acciones legales que les asistan para la salvaguarda de sus legítimos derechos.

Punto 1 - Cese de inmediato el uso de la marca POKéMON

NINTENDO ha tenido noticia de que a través de su página Web www.pokemon-safari.com se estaría realizando un uso inconsentido y por tanto ilícito de la marca "POKEMON",asi como de otros derechos de propiedad industrial e intelectual de NINTENDO. Por todo lo anterior y por medio de la presente, le requerimos formalmente para que cese con carácter inmediato en el uso inconsentido de las anteriores marcas propiedad de Nintendo...

As you can see its in Spanish.. but here is a quick Google Translation:

Dear Sir,

We are writing to alert you in the name and repesentación, and on behalf of specific clients Nintendo Australia Limited. And its parent company Nintendo Co, Ltd proprietor of the mark POKEMON (national brand with graphic verbal No M 2141090 to 2141104, for classes 3, 9, 14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 35, 41 and 42) and other industrial property rights and intellectual development of hardware systems and software for its Nintendo Wii game consoles , Nintendo DS, Nintendo DS Lite ( "Nintendo").

Nintendo has been reported that through its website www.pokemon-safari.com would be conducting a inconsentido use illegal and therefore the mark "POKEMON", as well as other rights of intellectual property of Nintendo.

For all these reasons and through this, we need to formally cease with immediate effect in the use of previous inconsentido trademarks owned by Nintendo, as well as refrain from developing or any activity likely to prejudice the legitimate interests of Users of the original Nintendo.

This is without prejudice to reserve Nintendo in any case the exercise of legal action to assist them to safeguard their legitimate rights.

Point 1 - immediately cease the use of the mark Pokemon

Nintendo has been reported that through its website www.pokemon-safari.com would be conducting a inconsentido use illegal and therefore the mark "POKEMON", as well as other rights of intellectual property of Nintendo. For all these reasons and through this, we need to formally cease with immediate effect in the use of inconsentido the foregoing trademarks owned by Nintendo

Now we noticed that the TRANSLATION says Nintendo of Australia but its really Nintendo of Spain, es (aka NoE).. anyway the second quotes in the above is the site owner saying he has no choice but to yield and shut down the site. Here is what he had to say about this:

PoKeSaFaRi's Comments on the Closure
Personally, I doubt that this is the real reason for the closure of the site. I suspect that Pokemon-Safari had grown to the point that it was appearing much in the media ("Revista Pokemon", numerous appearances on "Planeta Pokemon", DIBUS Magazine, PC Actual ...), reaching to a point where the fansite was overshadowing the official website in Spanish. This is not what the large multinational was seeking for, of course.

Lastly, it is a pity to have to close the site. I know many of you had a great affection for this site, and I have heard many people talk about it down the street and others such as my friends' brothers, which is great. I'm glad the site succeeded and that users had a good image of it and liked the way we did things. Because of this hobby, I have met very interesting people and from all continents. As a personal experience, it has been worthy and enjoyable...

Sincerely, Nil. (Formerly known as PoKeSaFaRi).

As far as we know, PokeSafari didn't have any illegal items, files or infringing things.. they did what most fan sites do, provide information, how to's, news and so forth. Yet like PPN, they were contacted and required to stop using the WORD Pokemon, which is in fact trademarked, yet is also the name of the games, TV series, trading card games, etc.. so how can you write about something if you can't say it? Yeah I know.. its crazy, huh?

With that all said, is fan sites (well, Nintendo based game(s) ones anyway) now an open target? Doesn't fair use apply anymore? Does Nintendo / Pokemon USA, Inc. want to chase their many, many fans away?

Sure seems like it to me, and many others..

Other Websites Discussing the Pokemon-Safari Closure

• Pokemon-Safari's Notice (Spanish)
• #Pocketmonsters (English)
• Elotrolado (Spanish)
• Meneame (Spanish)
• PokeBip Main Site (French)
• PokeBip Forums (French)
• Maxconsole
• Digg Article

I'll have more later when I can think straight, as its approaching midnight here and its been a long day.