Nintendo Wii Remote Breaking Patent Law?

[FooFan]

It seems that both Sony and Nintendo may have a fight on their hands thanks to a patent dispute currently doing the rounds in the US. This follows on from Sony’s humiliating courtroom defeat at the hands of Immersion Corporation, which effectively cost the Japanese giant $100 million in damages and forced them to remove controversial rumble technology from the first generation of PS3 consoles.

Originally Posted by CVG

The latest dispute comes from the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, where Copper Innovations Group late last month filed suit against Nintendo and Sony for a patent it holds on a "Hand Held Computer Input Apparatus and Method."

The patent--which was filed in January of 1996--covers a method for connecting devices to a system and sorting their inputs by means of hardware identification numbers tied to each transmission. According to the suit, Nintendo and Sony are violating the Copper Innovations Group's patent by making and selling their systems and controllers. The Wii Remote, Wii Nunchuk, Sixaxis controller, and Blu-ray Remote Control are all named in the suit as infringing products.

Copper Innovations Group is seeking damages plus interest, legal fees, and an injunction permanently prohibiting Sony, Nintendo, or their agents from infringing upon the patent. An attorney for Copper declined to comment on the case (or the omission of Microsoft as a defendant) for GameSpot, while Sony and Nintendo representatives did not return requests for comment.

Not good news for Ninty!

Source

[captainff]

The specific patent granted by the US patent office is number 5485171 and can be viewed here

Every transmitter unit has a unique hardware encoded identifying number. When power is first applied to the transmitter, for example when batteries are first inserted, the identifying number is read and stored in Random Access Memory (RAM) in the transmitter. All subsequent communications sent from that transmitter will contain that identifier. This affords a means of identifying the source of a communication sent to a receiver and to a host computer and also provides a means for rejecting data sent from a transmitter not intended to be in communication with a computer already in communication with another transmitter.

I think this is the passage that is in question.

[skyman747]

God, I hope this doesnt lead to recalls of US wiimotes and sixaxis controllers, because If that happens, then I may be forced to move to canada. Why does all US companies have to be so money grubbing. I guess that is america.

[TheKeyboardDemon]

Originally Posted by captainff

The specific patent granted by the US patent office is number 5485171 and can be viewed here



I think this is the passage that is in question.

So isn't that the way Wifi and Bluetooth technology also work, ie MAC addresses and user assigned Bluetooth passkeys etc.?

[wii_willy_winker]

But where is there technology to back it up?

Im gonna patent a pair of trainers that when i press a button they they then turn into a pair of shoes for going out in. I wont actually make them but i will patent the idea.....

[Scotty32]

Patent whores must die!!

I hate reading about some 'tard who sits on a patent then appears out of no where years later to sue for all they can get.

Originally Posted by wii_willy_winker

But where is there technology to back it up?

If i remember correctly, when i read about ebay getting sued by someone who had patented the "buy now" button, you dont actually have to make the idea reality - you can infact sit on it untill a big name uses the idea then, when your timing is right, sue for all you can get.

Originally Posted by wii_willy_winker

Im gonna patent a pair of trainers that when i press a button they they then turn into a pair of shoes for going out in. I wont actually make them but i will patent the idea.....

Damm, i forget the ideas people were going to patent in the Ebay case above.

[captainff]

Originally Posted by wii_willy_winker

But where is there technology to back it up?

Im gonna patent a pair of trainers that when i press a button they they then turn into a pair of shoes for going out in. I wont actually make them but i will patent the idea.....

*Note to self*

Must not tell everyone before application is completed and patent granted.. .. now it's in the public domain anyone can use it.

[Super smash bro]

Too be honest idc cas i live in the Uk!

Lol