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Nintendo in hot water over Wii-mote copyright infringement?

by Steven Williamson on 11 December 2006, 10:15

Tags: Nintendo Wii, Nintendo (TYO:7974), Wii

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Nintendo are facing legal action over claims that the Wii-mote infringes on a patent filed by Californian-based Interlink Electronics.

This court filing from gaming website Kotaku states that:

Nintendo of Amercia, Inc. regularly and continuously engages in substantial sales and other business transactions in Delaware, and has sold infringing products and/or committed infringing acts in the districts.

Interlink Electronics are attempting to claim damages from Nintendo via a jury trial, claiming that the Wii-mote has infringed on their "Trigger operated electronic device" patent which was filed in February,2005.

Interlink Electronics are seeking a restraining order against the sale of Nintendo’s controller as well as substantial damages.

Source : Kotaku


HEXUS Forums :: 10 Comments

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Posted by Mike Fishcake - Mon 11 Dec 2006 10:20
Was wondering how long it was going to be before something like this happened.

*sigh*
Posted by madmobile - Mon 11 Dec 2006 11:32
There're always some cases happen when a successful console launches.
If you remember immersion sue sony and microsoft for the vibration of the controllers on ps2 and xbox. Gamecube didn't get sued for that.
Posted by GeorgeTuk - Mon 11 Dec 2006 13:03
I am sure some companies are set up purely to do this.

Anyhow, why did they wait until it was released…publicity, no surely not!
Posted by directhex - Mon 11 Dec 2006 13:06
patents != copyright

and the specific implementation of the patent versus wiimote couldn't be more different - the pointer is implemented in a completely different manner, so only the “has trigger, points at tv” clause could be upheld (which is rediculously vague)
Posted by Merlin4458 - Mon 11 Dec 2006 13:21
swear i read somewhere that ps3 copied the wii remote idea?
Correct me if im wrong though as it was prob a rumour..

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