Uma Musume: Pretty Derby Survives Legal Scare as Konami and Cygames Agree to Settle

Konami and Cygames have officially ended their long-running legal dispute over Uma Musume: Pretty Derby, closing one of Japan’s most closely watched gaming lawsuits in recent years.

Konami vs Cygames Lawsuit Ends in Amicable Settlement

The lawsuit dates back to March 2023, when Konami Digital Entertainment filed a case against Cygames’ parent company, CyberAgent, claiming that Uma Musume: Pretty Derby had infringed on 18 of its game-related patents.

These reportedly covered gameplay mechanics such as character training, development, and progression systems, features that have been central to Konami’s own titles, including Powerful Pro Baseball and Tokimeki Memorial.

At the time, Konami sought roughly ¥4 billion (around $26–29 million USD) in damages and even requested a suspension of Uma Musume’s distribution in Japan.

Cygames strongly denied the allegations and countered with requests for invalidation trials on all 18 patents, asserting that no infringement had occurred. The company stated that it had previously tried to discuss patent rights for certain parts of the game with Konami, but the two sides couldn’t reach an agreement, prompting Konami to take legal action.

Fast forward to this month, both companies have now confirmed that the matter has been resolved through a confidential settlement. According to official statements by both parties, Konami has withdrawn its claims, while Cygames will continue operating Uma Musume: Pretty Derby as usual.

CyberAgent emphasized that the impact of the settlement on its financial performance will be “minor,” indicating that no major payouts or operational changes are expected.

In an official statement, Cygames said:

“Since being sued on March 31, 2023, Cygames has requested invalidation trials for all 18 patents involved in the lawsuit and remains confident that no patent infringement has occurred. However, Cygames decided to settle the dispute in order to resolve it promptly and ensure that users of Uma Musume: Pretty Derby can enjoy the service at ease in the long term.”

While neither side revealed details of the settlement, both issued respectful messages toward each other. Cygames noted that it “respects the efforts of creators at companies in the game industry, including Konami Digital Entertainment,” and Konami echoed a similar sentiment, saying both companies would “strive to provide content and services that please customers.”

For players, this means Uma Musume: Pretty Derby is safe and staying online. The game, which blends anime-style horse racing and idol simulation, remains one of Japan’s top-grossing mobile titles, earning billions of yen annually. It’s also become a cultural phenomenon beyond gaming, inspiring anime series, music concerts, and even real-world tributes to the racehorses that inspired its characters.

While the exact patents in question may never be revealed due to confidentiality terms, what’s clear is that both Konami and Cygames wanted to move past the legal fight for the sake of stability and fans.