The Pokémon Company was established in its current form in 2000.
The organization began as Pokémon Center Co., Ltd. in 1998, a joint venture created to manage Pokémon Center stores and related merchandise. In 2000, it was reorganized and renamed The Pokémon Company, becoming the central business responsible for managing the franchise.
Nintendo, Creatures, and Game Freak jointly own and oversee the Pokémon property. The Pokémon Company coordinates licensing, publishing, marketing, merchandise, and other commercial activities across the franchise. This structure helped unify a brand that already included games, cards, animation, films, and retail products.
The 1998 and 2000 dates are both connected to the company’s history, but they refer to different stages. The earlier date marks the formation of Pokémon Center Co.; the later date marks the organization’s current name and broader role.