NationStates Jolt Archive

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 January's 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.

Non-plussed 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.

By Brendan Sinclair -- GameSpot
Posted Dec 19, 2005 10:21 am PT

This is pathetic.

First of all, that's hilarious that the scientists call it that. It makes a whole lot of sense to call the POK erythroid myeloid ontogenic gene the Pokemon gene for short.

Now, Nintendo comes in an worries about the image of their "well-respected' Pokemon brand, thinking that this will somehow impact sales.

Do you know what's going to impact sales, Nintendo? The public's reaction to you threatening a lawsuit against the already underfunded cancer research community!

I wonder hoe underfunded the cancer research community is. I believe we should do whatever neccessary to forward cancer research. In my view, they have more than enough money and it isn't a lack of money that is hindering progress.

Whoa... they must really hate Pokemon with a passion to name a cancer gene after it :eek:

This is pathetic.

First of all, that's hilarious that the scientists call it that. It makes a whole lot of sense to call the POK erythroid myeloid ontogenic gene the Pokemon gene for short.

Now, Nintendo comes in an worries about the image of their "well-respected' Pokemon brand, thinking that this will somehow impact sales.

Do you know what's going to impact sales, Nintendo? The public's reaction to you threatening a lawsuit against the already underfunded cancer research community!
Is the cancer research community underfunded? In the UK it's worth >£200m a year, and is the most popular charity there is in the UK.
Having said that, I agree entirely, Nintendo's just being fucking stupid.

Whoa... they must really hate Pokemon with a passion to name a cancer gene after it :eek:

Actually, it's usually an honour to have these things named after things one is associated with.

Well I am split.

For one I think it was pretty dumb, IMO, to use a trademarked name for a cancer causing gene as it shoudl be obvious that there would be legal consequences.

On the other hand I think that any publicity is good publicity, and Nintendo should be happy that they are getting free advertising *sorta* (Perhaps though they are only bringing this case to get more advertising). Also, it's lame to sue cancer researchers if they are goign to take money from such an important cause. I could see a compelling reason for them not wanting that name used though and if all they want thru court action is to stop it, then that woudl be okay.

Whoa... they must really hate Pokemon with a passion to name a cancer gene after it :eek:

Actually, most likely, they or their children really like Pokemon. Scientists have named genes after all sorts of things. Sonic Hedgehog is one. Some genes have Star Trek references. There's one named cappacino. This wasn't even directly named after Pokemon - it was just shortened to that because someone noticed that they could.

Most genes are found by isolating the defects they can cause if mutated. No one has railed that scientists hate Star Trek or Sega or Starbuck's.

This is pathetic.

First of all, that's hilarious that the scientists call it that. It makes a whole lot of sense to call the POK erythroid myeloid ontogenic gene the Pokemon gene for short.

Now, Nintendo comes in an worries about the image of their "well-respected' Pokemon brand, thinking that this will somehow impact sales.

Do you know what's going to impact sales, Nintendo? The public's reaction to you threatening a lawsuit against the already underfunded cancer research community!
I don't know... I always looked at Pokemon like a cancer.

can·cer (knsr)
n.
2. A pernicious, spreading evil

"Pokemon sales near 150 million units
The Pokemon franchise seems to have been one of Nintendo's smartest investments to date, having been milked of $15 billion worldwide in the last decade."
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=26779

Cancer Causing Gene???

I thought it was industrial pollution that causes cancer.

In the past, we have been made well aware that corporations
have always tried to put the blame for their pollutions on the individuals
that got sick from them - including for cancer.


That there might be genes that some people have that leave
them more suseptable to developing cancer....that is another matter.


Am I totally off on this?

Corporations cannot be trusted, so there's my bias.
I'm only human, corporations are not. Can you blame me?

Malignant Melanoma, I choose you! :eek:

Cancer Causing Gene???

I thought it was industrial pollution that causes cancer.

In the past, we have been made well aware that corporations
have always tried to put the blame for their pollutions on the individuals
that got sick from them - including for cancer.


That there might be genes that some people have that leave
them more suseptable to developing cancer....that is another matter.


Am I totally off on this?

Corporations cannot be trusted, so there's my bias.
I'm only human, corporations are not. Can you blame me?

When we talk about a gene that causes cancer, we are generally talking about a gene that, if mutated, causes cancer. Or a gene that, if left unchecked by other regulatory genes (which can mutate and lose their function), causes cancer. The "if mutated" just gets left out.

Generally, to get cancer, you are looking at 5 mutations in a single cell - at the least. That's the number that you need before things go awry enough (and aren't checked by the cell itself or the immune system) to start a cancerous growth. Among the accumulated mutations are the genes that "cause cancer".

Cancer Causing Gene???

I thought it was industrial pollution that causes cancer.

In the past, we have been made well aware that corporations
have always tried to put the blame for their pollutions on the individuals
that got sick from them - including for cancer.


That there might be genes that some people have that leave
them more suseptable to developing cancer....that is another matter.


Am I totally off on this?

Corporations cannot be trusted, so there's my bias.
I'm only human, corporations are not. Can you blame me?

you're part right. Cancer is when a cell/cells grow and reproduce out of control. Genes are what control the growth and reproduction. A mutation in these genes (often introduced to the body through something on the market, or radiation) is what causes cancer.

When we talk about a gene that causes cancer, we are generally talking about a gene that, if mutated, causes cancer. Or a gene that, if left unchecked by other regulatory genes (which can mutate and lose their function), causes cancer. The "if mutated" just gets left out.

Generally, to get cancer, you are looking at 5 mutations in a single cell - at the least. That's the number that you need before things go awry enough (and aren't checked by the cell itself or the immune system) to start a cancerous growth. Among the accumulated mutations are the genes that "cause cancer".



So what causes the genes to mutate?

I thought it was industrial pollution that causes cancer.Numerous things can cause cancer. Pollution is just one of them. Virusses is also a big class, and faulty genes also. In the end it usually boils down to something going wrong with the genes (either because they were faulty to begin with, or are damaged).
There's usually a few factors involved actually. Several safety mechanisms in a cell have to be disabled/circumvented for it to multiply out of control.

So what causes the genes to mutate?

Forum responses that don't help from smart-ass clowns. :)

So what causes the genes to mutate?Virusses, radiation, certain compounds in food, polution, random error during copying.
And there's epigentic factors, which aren't technically mutations, but do change how genes work.

Malignant Melanoma, I choose you! :eek:

*fit of uncontrollable laughter*

Actually, Pokemon (the game), does case cancer.

Actually, Pokemon (the game), does case cancer.

Ya, everyone knows the electromagnetic radiation from pikachu will give you cancer :rolleyes:

Ya, everyone knows the electromagnetic radiation from pikachu will give you cancer :rolleyes:
Exactly.

Actually, Pokemon (the game), does case cancer.Only if you burn it and inhale the fumes. And do this several times a week, which would be a rather expensive addiction.

Only if you burn it and inhale the fumes. And do this several times a week, which would be a rather expensive addiction.

Not too expensive nowadays, unless you need to burn the newest version of the game to get the maximum effects.

I think you can pick up the oldest version of Pokemon for real cheap now.

Exactly.

That and *tries desperatly to remember back when i was young enough to like pokemon*
Nah fuck it, peer pressure has forced it all out of my brain.

Well I am split.

For one I think it was pretty dumb, IMO, to use a trademarked name for a cancer causing gene as it shoudl be obvious that there would be legal consequences.

Pokémon is copyrighted. Pokemon is nothing.

And you know what's funny? Pokémon cards are called Pocket Monsters in Japan. Japanese cards say "Pocket Monster" on the back.

Pokémon is copyrighted. Pokemon is nothing.
(...)
That would've been my point exactly. But I can contribute this to emphasize how I feel about the whole issue:
http://www.studip.uni-goettingen.de/pictures/smile/poke.gif

Zbtb7 - Doesn't that sound like a StarWars droid? ZeeBee-Teebee7...

Did I mention I hate Pokémons?

So what causes the genes to mutate?

All sorts of things. UV radiation (or any type of radiation really) are a culprit. Viruses of certain types can cause mutations. Some mutations are caused by oxidative damage that can be brought on by all sorts of substances/exposures - and get worse with age. Others, we can't really pin down a cause for. Mutations happen randomly all the time and are usually caught by repair mechanisms in your cells. If the repair mechanisms don't catch them though.....

I know plenty of people have already answered this, but the question was posed to me, so I figured I was obligated. =)

Pokémon is copyrighted. Pokemon is nothing.

And you know what's funny? Pokémon cards are called Pocket Monsters in Japan. Japanese cards say "Pocket Monster" on the back.

Says something about our culture interactions...

Pocket Monsters works fine for japan...but for america they have to "japan it up" and call it Pokemon.

What the hell ! You people depress me. Do you think any company could stand by whilst another group uses their primary product as the nickname for an extremely negative phenominon (sp).

And as for mutating Genes, any one of a myriad of factors cause a gene to mutate and a similar number of saftey checks exist in the cell to catch and destroy such mutation. It is in fact quite difficult to ctach cancer. It really shows you just how often we suffer damage to our DNA, though i often wonder how much this has really risen in modern times.

What the hell ! You people depress me. Do you think any company could stand by whilst another group uses their primary product as the nickname for an extremely negative phenominon (sp).

Perhaps not...but to threaten to take money away from cancer research? I'm sorry...that's ridiculous...

And what threaten then with an angry letter if they didnt remove the name ? Or maybe send then an cross looking kitten to scare them into remvoing the title ?

Pokemon brain causes cancer.
Example:
A young relative of mine once came over a few years ago, I invited him to play Goldeneye 007 on the good 'ol N64 (breakthrough technology back then), up until that point he sat in a corner playing Pokemon and not talking. He enjoyed Goldeneye, but the part that got me was when he asked who James Bond was.
If I could choose an emoticon for that moment, it would be:
:eek:

How can you NOT know who James Bond is? Thats like not knowing who the current President is!
I was forced to give him radiation therapy in the form of Moonraker.

And what threaten then with an angry letter if they didnt remove the name ? Or maybe send then an cross looking kitten to scare them into remvoing the title ?

I don't know. I don't have an answer. I just know, that even as an extremely pro-business person myself, taking money away from cancer research is absolutely horrible. Everyone knows someone who died or who has cancer. It needs to be cured. We don't need Nintendo...much less Pokemon. Some things take priority.

I'm on nintendo's side. wtf kind of name is that anyway?

Goldeneye ! You killed a thousand puppies at that very moment when perpetuating the fanboy swelled pap that was goldeneye, everyone knows that "the world is not enough" was considerable better.

I suppose they're perfectly right in asking for it not to be called that, but really...who sues a cancer research charity?

Although I seriously hate pokemon, I'm on nintendos side as well.

what's next you suffer from Samus SYndrome

or Luigikemia

I don't know. I don't have an answer. I just know, that even as an extremely pro-business person myself, taking money away from cancer research is absolutely horrible. Everyone knows someone who died or who has cancer. It needs to be cured. We don't need Nintendo...much less Pokemon. Some things take priority.
That is considerably more ridiculous. You dont have have another option for them but you are knee-jerk horrified by the threat of taking money from cancer research. I am sure you are less concerned by the 100's of millions of dollars robbed from the US medical system from other areas every year.

But never fear, what matter here is that something might harm your fuzzy pink view of the world in which the legal system works and everything is great. Get back to you chair and do not speak again until youve thought this though.

Oh shut up and cawl back under your rocks your morons, i have absolutely no time for this kind of blithering idiocy. Think. It. Through.

The post dissapeared ! Cheating i say !

Goldeneye ! You killed a thousand puppies at that very moment when perpetuating the fanboy swelled pap that was goldeneye, everyone knows that "the world is not enough" was considerable better.

Oh shut up and cawl back under your rocks your morons, i have absolutely no time for this kind of blithering idiocy. Think. It. Through.

Does anyone else see the irony in this?

All sorts of things. UV radiation (or any type of radiation really) are a culprit. .....:headbang:
There have been no successful studies to prove UV causes cancer. It may aid in the sucessful growth of certain skin cancers but we NEED UV radiation to keep healthy. UV has been annecdotally linked to the prevention and mitigation of some internal cancers such as breast cancer.
Proper use of UV should be done with respect by adults who can understand various implications and results of radiation use in limited amounts.
Information provided by Smart Tan International.

Oh whatever, the post i was comminting on was edited away thank you, and The World Is Not Enough was literally better in every way anyway, F.A.C.T.

I suppose they're perfectly right in asking for it not to be called that, but really...who sues a cancer research charity?

I agree Nadkor. They should have used more quiet channels.

On the other hand, not conflicting previous paragraph, researchers need to be more careful when naming these medical nightmares. Think back to the early '80s. There was a new weight loss product on the market called Aides. Shortly afterwards a new deadly and horrific disease became prevalent called Acquired Imune Deficiency Syndrome. :mp5:

Quieter Circles? And you can show me Nintendos press release about how they really want to take money fom cancerous babies ? O would it be that they were already being quiet.

:headbang:
There have been no successful studies to prove UV causes cancer.

This is the silliest thing I've ever heard. Mutations cause cancer. Overexposure to UV causes mutations. You want a study? Look up what happens when you UV irradiate cells.

It may aid in the sucessful growth of certain skin cancers but we NEED UV radiation to keep healthy.

We need potassium to keep healthy too, but too much of it can kill you. Isn't it funny how that works?

Meanwhile, UV doesn't "aid in the growth of" cancers. UV radiation can and does cause mutations that *lead to* cancer.

I thought Pokémon was pretty much dead. It seems to have faded from the public consciousness already. Why would Nintendo care about it anymore?

This is pathetic.

First of all, that's hilarious that the scientists call it that. It makes a whole lot of sense to call the POK erythroid myeloid ontogenic gene the Pokemon gene for short.

Now, Nintendo comes in an worries about the image of their "well-respected' Pokemon brand, thinking that this will somehow impact sales.

Do you know what's going to impact sales, Nintendo? The public's reaction to you threatening a lawsuit against the already underfunded cancer research community!

You know what's going to impact Nintendo's sales? Their growing irrelevance. They've been a third rate video game company ever since they broke with Sony in the Playstation/Dreamcast generation. They're hanging on by their fingernails. That they're still making game systems is more a reflection of their denial than their success.

My guess is that this lawsuit stands to be the best publicity they've had since the actual Pokemon cartoon. If only because people will actually hear about it. Frankly, I wish they'd just license Metroid and Zelda to one of the other companies and be done with it.

You know what's going to impact Nintendo's sales? Their growing irrelevance. They've been a third rate video game company ever since they broke with Sony in the Playstation/Dreamcast generation. They're hanging on by their fingernails. That they're still making game systems is more a reflection of their denial than their success.

My guess is that this lawsuit stands to be the best publicity they've had since the actual Pokemon cartoon. If only because people will actually hear about it. Frankly, I wish they'd just license Metroid and Zelda to one of the other companies and be done with it.

Nintendo is trying to appeal even more to its hardcore fanboys by putting out a next-gen NES. That's right, a system that plays NES and Famicon cartridges with all the bells and whistles of the next-gen consoles: wireless controllers, 2.4gHz processors, etc. Who wants to be all the dumbass people who broke their NES will buy this out of a misplaced sense of nostalgia instead of buying an NES 2 on eBay.