Because of the disturbance that players of Pokemon Go has caused residents, a New Jersey man filed on Friday a lawsuit in a California federal court against Niantic Labs and Nintendo.
CNET reported that Jeffrey Marder not only filed a lawsuit against the popular online game’s creators but wants the case to have class-action status. He said the game has become a nuisance because leading players who seek the mythical, miniature players enter his house and knocked on his door to ask access to his backyard so they can catch the Pokemon.
Marder is accusing the game creators of placing GPS coordinates of Pokestops and gyms on or directly adjacent properties without seeking the approval of the owner. While the game has broken download records since it was released in the U.S. on July 6, property owners whose places were disturbed or trespassed without their permission are not happy with the game.
According to Sensor Tower, an App analytic company, Pokemon Go has been downloaded more than 30 million times on iOS and Android. It also earned more than $35 million in revenue for the creators of the game. Needham, a financial company, estimated the app could add $3 billion to Apple sales in the next 12 to 24 months, reported CNET.
To deal with the rush of Pokemon catchers, which has caused a stampede in Sydney, Australia, and Central Park, New York, residents seek more action from local governments. In Canada, a Vancouver resident irritated by intrusion of gamers on his apartment building, placed a large sign that reads: “GET A LIFE AND STAY OUT OF MY YARD.”
A Southern California police department also asked players not to call the emergency number 911 just to ask if the station has Pokemons.
Niantic guidelines actually specify that gamers should “not trespass, or in any manner gain or attempt to gain access to any property or location where you do not have the right or permission to be.”