The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has rejected Nintendo's patent that involves an in-game character summoning a sub-character to aid it in battle
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/us-patent-office-rejects-nintendos-summon-subcharacter-and-let-it-fight-patent
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/us-patent-office-rejects-nintendos-summon-subcharacter-and-let-it-fight-patent
