Nintendo, Microsoft, Sony sued for controller patent infringement [update 1]

9 Comments by James Ransom-Wiley Jan 11th 2007 12:53AM
Filed under: Business

Fenner Investments has filed a lawsuit against Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony, alleging that the 'Big Three' have violated its patent for a "low-voltage joystick port interface." The patent was filed in 1998 (granted in 2001), and Fenner is now seeking compensation for damages it claims to have incurred as a result of the violations.

Ars Technica did some digging and discovered that Fenner filed a pair of similar lawsuits in the past against several other large companies. Both suits were settled out of court, with one source citing a "favorable result" for Fenner. Can Fenner keep its hot streak going? It could be years before we know that answer.

[Thanks, Kiel]

Update: This story is a duplicate of an earlier post. We apologize for the error. The author has since been subjected to Full House reruns.

Tags: Controller, Fenner, Gamepad, Lawsuit, Microsoft, Nintendo, Patent, Sony

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(Page 1) Reader Comments

Rubang B: Jan 11th 2007; 1:00AM

Console makers sued over analog joysticks

Posted Jan 10th 2007 10:40AM by Kyle Orland

http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/10/console-makers-sued-over-analog-joysticks/

Evan Oliver: Jan 11th 2007; 1:00AM

Wasn't this already covered?
http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/10/console-makers-sued-over-analog-joysticks/

David004: Jan 11th 2007; 1:08AM

Didn't someone post this here like 12 hours ago? I remember people making fun of this. Unless I can see the future!

Pixelbox: Jan 11th 2007; 1:53AM

It's a duplicate story and here's why:

It's the great uniter. Fanboys of all stripes can agree that this is a load of horse-snot.

Phillip Knass: Jan 11th 2007; 3:14AM

Im signed up to recieve emails and tex from Majornelson.com, as soon as he post something. So I recieved the following, but it hasnt been posted yet, I guess there is new COD3 Maps:
Alerts from www.majornelson.com

xl.predator@gmail.com,
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Burnt Meatloaf: Jan 11th 2007; 4:40AM

I think everything already has been patented -- even math.

Ah, but is a gamepad REALLY a joystick? I smell a loophole!

PurpleSfinx: Jan 11th 2007; 7:38AM

Joytsiq is infringing on patents and trademarks as well, with the name Joystiq.

1. Joysticks are patented.

2. I haved trademarked the deliberate misspelling of words on the internet, back when I invented the tubes.

Kelvin: Jan 11th 2007; 7:43AM

You folks trying to go highbrow by using an Economist cartoon?

tracked: Jan 14th 2007; 12:37PM

NOOOOOO. THE HORROR!!!! FULL HOUSE IS EVIL.

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