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Nintendo & Microsoft getting sued over controllers

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A CASE started in a Texas district court a few days back alleging that Nintendo and Microsoft had breached a game controller patent. Or two. Or more.
Anascape Ltd, a firm based in Texas, alleges that Nintendo and Microsoft breached patent number 5,999,084, called "Variable Conductance Sensor" and issued to Brad Armstrong in 1999.

The firms are also alleged to have breached patents 6,102,802 - "Game Controller with Analog Pressure sensor, and 6,135,886, "Variable Conductance Sensor with Elastomeric Dome Cap as well as 6,208,271 "Remote Controller with Analog Button".

No, we're not finished yet. Anascape alleges 6,222,525 "Image Controller with Sheet Connected Sensors" was also breached, as well as 6,343, 991 "Game Control with Analog Pressure Sensor" and 6,344,791 "Variable Sensor with Tactile Feedback".

As well as 6,347,997 "Analog Controls Housed with Electronic Displays", 6,351,205 "Variable Conductance Sensor" (a different one) and 6,400, 303 "Remote Controller with Analog Pressure Sensor" (a different one).

Then there's 6,563, 415 "Analog Sensor with Snap Through Tactile Feedback". And lastly, but not leastly, there is 6,906,700 "3D Controller with Vibration".

If you've got this far you won't be surprised to learn that Anascape Ltd wants a court to rule Nintendo and Microsoft owe it a lot of money.
Click to expand...

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=33466
 
You know, I should start patenting every friggin thing I can. I'll be rich when I sue Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft.

BTW, why wasn't Sony sued for this?
 
Ecrofirt said:
You know, I should start patenting every friggin thing I can. I'll be rich when I sue Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft.

BTW, why wasn't Sony sued for this?
Click to expand...
They probably felt sorry for them after they lost the rumble.
 
i get it. this company is full of Sony fanboys and only want to sue Nintendo/Microsoft because they don't want money from Sony
 
3D controller with vibration: Patent #6,906,700, invented by Brad A. Armstrong of Carson City, assigned to Anascape of Carson City. Issued June 16th 2005.

Yeah good luck with that.
 
Valtox said:
they are already sued for something similar:lol
Click to expand...

i dont think its similar at all. they were sued over rumble and are still fighting that battle. unless i missed something, this Anascape company isn't suing Sony.
 
MrPing1000 said:
3D controller with vibration: Patent #6,906,700, invented by Brad A. Armstrong of Carson City, assigned to Anascape of Carson City. Issued June 16th 2005.

Yeah good luck with that.
Click to expand...
they are going to win. you know, nintendo used vibration pack for a lot of time
 
Do these people invent things or just slap any possible combination of two things together that they never made in the first place? And calling it a brilliant idea? And the patent people actually acknowledges it as a good idea? And why does the place 'Texas' give me weird images when I think about this?
 
Ecrofirt said:
You know, I should start patenting every friggin thing I can. I'll be rich when I sue Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft.

BTW, why wasn't Sony sued for this?
Click to expand...
They don't use a conductive sensor, from what I believe. I did research on a PS2 controller, and compared it to the others (for a speech) and the non-Sony console controllers used it. I can't remember everything, but that's what I kind of remember.
 
davepoobond said:
i dont think its similar at all. they were sued over rumble and are still fighting that battle. unless i missed something, this Anascape company isn't suing Sony.
Click to expand...
cmon something like that :)
 
Luna104 said:
Yamauchi is briefing his ninjas as we speak.
Click to expand...
yamauchips0.jpg
 
Sooo, when did these people realise that Nintendo and Microsoft infringed on their patents? Last month?

Why sue them now for tegnology they've been using for years?
 
Basicallly, they just thought up of a bunch of different ideas and patented them. waited for companies to actually create and come up with the technology for making working controllers with above said ideas. Then, waited a few years so they could say that they've had patents for so many odd years, and then sue.
Though, ofcourse entirely forgetting the fact that many (if not all) of those ideas are to be found in console constrollers prior to 1999 anyway.
 
tHa_vIlLaMaN said:
Sooo, when did these people realise that Nintendo and Microsoft infringed on their patents? Last month?

Why sue them now for tegnology they've been using for years?
Click to expand...
most likely, if it's in any shape or form legitimate, they've been arguing with Nintendo and Microsoft for a settlement under the table for years now.
 
I still believe that the only way to fix the patent system is to treat it like a trademark in the sense that if you dont protect it you lose it.
 
Smiles and Cries said:
why? they are fair game and I would trust Nintendo to pay if they lost
Click to expand...
If Nintendo lose,
I can see Nintendo using all their patents to sue MS and SONY and whoever...
Just to get back what they lost.
 
It's typical to play some dirty games in bussiness. Right now Sony are suing Microsoft and Nintendo. Last time it was Microsoft suing Sony. And so on and so forth. This won't stop it's just bussiness - they will win from one lawsuit and lose from the other. Karma, baby!
 
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