The Pokemon Company has officially responded to a recent video released by the US Department of Homeland Security that incorporated multiple elements from the popular Pokemon anime series. The government agency's video featured the iconic "Gotta Catch 'em All" theme song alongside anime visuals, interspersed with footage of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests.

Earlier this week, the Department of Homeland Security published a promotional video across its social media channels highlighting ICE operations. This controversial content combined actual arrest footage with clips from the original Pokemon anime series and its famous theme music. The video even displayed arrested individuals in a style reminiscent of Pokemon trading cards, complete with listed offenses beneath their images. For many Pokemon enthusiasts, seeing the beloved franchise associated with law enforcement raids and handcuffed suspects proved particularly disturbing.

Many Pokemon fans immediately suspected that the Department of Homeland Security had used the anime content without proper authorization. Social media platforms quickly filled with criticism, with some users even calling on Nintendo to pursue copyright infringement litigation against the US government. These suspicions appear justified, as The Pokemon Company has since issued an official statement to Eurogamer clarifying that it had "no involvement in the creation or distribution" of the government video and explicitly stated that "permission was not granted" for the use of Pokemon intellectual property.

The company's statement read: "We are aware of a recent video posted by the Department of Homeland Security that includes imagery and language associated with our brand. The Pokemon Company was not involved in the creation or distribution of this content, and permission was not granted for the use of our intellectual property."

This confirmation establishes that the use of Pokemon characters, visuals, and music in the government video constituted unauthorized usage, potentially exposing the Department of Homeland Security to legal consequences. However, The Pokemon Company has not indicated whether it plans to take legal action against the agency. Adding perspective to the situation, Don McGowan, the company's former Chief Legal Officer, suggested in an interview with IGN that legal recourse appears unlikely. McGowan cited multiple factors including The Pokemon Company's preference for avoiding publicity, the immigration statuses of its executives in the United States, and concerns that litigation against a government agency could generate additional controversy.

Despite these considerations, fans continue to urge both Nintendo and The Pokemon Company to pursue legal action against the Department of Homeland Security for what they perceive as blatant copyright infringement. The ultimate resolution of this situation remains uncertain, though this incident represents just the latest instance where the current administration has drawn criticism from the gaming community. Just two weeks prior, US Secretary of Health and Human Services RFK Jr. suggested connections between video games and gun violence—a claim repeatedly debunked by research.