Nintendo, Sony becoming targets of Lawsuit over Patent

S

Strubes

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/11/nintendo-sony-sued-for-alleged-patent-infringement/

A Pennsylvania company has filed suit against Nintendo and Sony for allegedly violating its patent held for a "hand held computer input apparatus and method." The Wiimote, Nunchuk, Sixaxis, and PS3 Blu-ray remote were all named in the lawsuit filed last month in the US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Copper Innovations Group claims that these devices infringe on its 1996 patent for a method of sorting devices connected to a system by number identification.

Copper is after a cut of Wii's lucrative profits and PS3's, seeking payment for damages, with interest, and legal fees. Copper is also calling for a permanent injunction that would prohibit Nintendo, Sony and 3rd-party manufacturers from further infringing on the patent.
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wiimote-patent-suit.jpg
 
Sorry, but I don't see the infringement based on that alone. The patent in question looks more like a mouse than a Wiimote.
 
They say specifically the infringement was on "hand held computer input apparatus and method." What that actually refers to, I'm not entirely sure, but "method" certainly sounds like they're claiming infringement on more than overall look of the wii-mote. The fact that they both look remote-like may only be coincidental, and not part of the actual lawsuit.

However, I don't see anything coming from this. It's pretty hard to claim patent-ship over all "hand held computer input apparatus" so I think this case will most likely get thrown out or settled discretely out of court.
 
I don't either. What they're basing the infringement off of can cover a wide range of devices, not just the Wii-mote and Sixaxis controller.
 
Yeah, but like Stealth said, it's not over the design. It's over what they're used for. Still, I don't think this will hold up too well.
 
Nintendo and Sony have already gotten the necessary patents, though, so the patent company would be the one to blame, no?
 
Strubes said:
Yeah, but like Stealth said, it's not over the design. It's over what they're used for. Still, I don't think this will hold up too well.
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Yes, but I guess I was too subtle. I was getting at more than looks. The fact that is so similar to a mouse makes it nothing like a Wiimote besides the shape.

That was my point.

If this is all they have to argue then they don't have a leg to stand on.
 
Ain't gonna happen. If patents are like copyrights, then all they need is something like a 33% difference in design to be free and clear of any infringement. Besides, the patent office granted Sony patents for the Sixaxis, and Nintendo for the Wiimote. The case is frivilous at best. They are targeting companies with deep pockets in hopes that they would settle instead of going to court. If I were on Sony of Nintendo's legal team, I'd call up this company and say let's dance.
 
these devices infringe on its 1996 patent for a method of sorting devices connected to a system by number identification.
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That's what they're suing for. Not for the design of the Wiimote/Sony products, but rather the technology used to connect them to the receiver (aka console).
 
kirbyrockz said:
That's what they're suing for. Not for the design of the Wiimote/Sony products, but rather the technology used to connect them to the receiver (aka console).
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Yeah, but waiting a year after launch to mount a case? Ha. They were banking on Nintendo's popularity to make millions.
 
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