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Posted: May 19 2014 11:49 pm

Game Informer wrote:

Philips has filed suit against Nintendo claiming patent infringement. Specifically, the complaint focuses on motion-controlled consoles and peripherals, including the Wii U and its accessories, and technology that “models a user’s body in a virtual environment by animating a virtual body to follow the physical movements of the user.”

The suit was filed on May 14 in Delaware, and claims infringement of Philips’ “Virtual Body Control Device” and “User Interface System Based on Pointing Device” patents. Philips also claims Nintendo was aware of its patents via correspondence dated December 2011.

Philips seeks damages for the infringement and enhancement valued at three times that, as well as interest. The company also seeks an injunction against further importation and sales of the Wii U and infringing products.

We’ve reached out to Nintendo for comment and will update should we hear back.

Update: Nintendo has declined to comment.

Source: http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/05/14/philips-sues-nintendo-seeks-to-halt-wii-u-sales-in-u-s.aspx

No, seriously, this is fucking bullshit. I wish I knew who invented patent trolling so I could track the fucker down and shoot them. And Phillips, Nintendo should be the ones suing your ass; you have made nothing but buttfucking fail out your Nintendo licenses.

Posted: May 20 2014 03:41 am

So, basically, Phillips is claiming that they hold the exclusive rights to AR & VR in the US market? That shit'll get thrown out by a judge so fast it's not even funny. They should probably stick to making decent televisions and shut the fuck up.

UsaSatsui's Youtube Channel · Posted: May 20 2014 01:54 pm

This court finds in favor of Nintendo based upon snap judgements by the internet by people who know absolutely nothing about the case.

Posted: May 21 2014 01:53 am

Nintendo should release the CD-i games on the Virtual Console as a form of public shaming against Phillips.

Posted: May 22 2014 10:28 am

My two questions would be this: How long has Phillips had these patents and what have they done with these patents?

If they have held the patents for a considerable time and done nothing with them, then this is a clear case of patent trolling. However, there are no U.S. laws against patent trolling. In fact, legislation to prevent such practices was just shelved: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/22/business/legislation-to-protect-against-patent-trolls-is-shelved.html?_r=0

Compare this to cybersquatting, which is illegal.

A sympathetic judge could still throw the case out or minimize the payment due. Also, Nintendo could ask the patent being reexamined and get it revoked.

Keep in mind, Nintendo has already settled/lost several patent lawsuits related to the Wii. This could also work to their advantage in this case. They could argue that their device doesn't infringe on the Phillips patent because it already infringed on another patent. Or that Phillips patent is invalid because it also infringes on the patent that Nintendo was already found in infringement of.

Posted: Jun 25 2014 03:20 pm

Apparently Nintendo lost the lawsuit.

UsaSatsui's Youtube Channel · Posted: Jun 25 2014 03:55 pm

Jaks wrote:

Apparently Nintendo lost the lawsuit.

Got a link? Because nobody "loses" any sort of lawsuit in a month. Maybe a settlement, but it takes 6 months to fight a freaking parking ticket. Lawsuits take years.

Posted: Jun 25 2014 04:08 pm

I had to look up patent troll. Fuck, Phillips. I will never use their screws again... then again, they probably didn't even make them. I'm going to go buy some stock in Flathead.

Even regardless of the legalities, I hope Nintendo can make a better outcome of it. Patent trolling is withholding technology and further development for cash (surprise!) Fuck you again, Phillips. Contract the patent away with royalties (and a down payment, if you want, you greedy fucks) and let somebody else use that technology be used for something more interesting and useful than widening the lips of your wallet. Go make some better light bulbs and leave Zelda alone.

----

I also found this neat tidbit (that I didn't know about):

Wikipedia wrote:

Patent trolling has been less of a problem in Europe than in the U.S. because Europe has a loser pays costs regime. In contrast, the U.S. generally used the so-called American rule, providing that each party is responsible for paying its own attorney's fees, until U.S. Supreme Court decided Octane Fitness, LLC v. ICON Health & Fitness, Inc. on April 29, 2014.

I'd never considered it, but I like the English Rule. It figures that America is behind on something else.

Someday, Metric System... someday.

Posted: Jun 25 2014 04:11 pm

UsaSatsui wrote:

Jaks wrote:

Apparently Nintendo lost the lawsuit.

Got a link? Because nobody "loses" any sort of lawsuit in a month. Maybe a settlement, but it takes 6 months to fight a freaking parking ticket. Lawsuits take years.

http://www.polygon.com/2014/6/23/5833560/nintendo-loses-uk-lawsuit-regarding-wii-motion-controls
http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/06/23/nintendo-loses-lawsuit-to-philips
http://www.complex.com/video-games/2014/06/nintendo-loses-patent-lawsuit-concerning-the-wii-and-wii-u
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/nintendo/10919382/Nintendo-loses-UK-patent-battle-over-Wii-console.html

These are in accordance with the UK lawsuit. The others are still in litigation.

Posted: Jun 25 2014 10:26 pm

Uhg. I have to agree with the "loser pays" way of doing things. And that goes for EVERY lawsuit for any reason. Sure would save businesses some money and keep people from suing for every little minor grievance.

UsaSatsui's Youtube Channel · Posted: Jun 26 2014 07:52 am

Yeah, I saw those this morning. I hate finding evidence that proves myself wrong. But yeah, that explains why it "happened" so quickly - the UK lawsuit has apparently been in the works for far longer.