Nintendo sued, yet again, for Wii remote patent infringement

That's why these companies are going after Nintendo because they're aiming for ridiculous cash settlements.

I'm not saying this "Hillcrest Labs" don't have a valid case(I'm no attorney by any means)but if they truly did have similar work... they rightfully should be compensated.

I think its more to the point that something could happen to importing or selling the trademark Wiimote. Like what happened to the Classic and GC pads.

Jack, look at it this way.

Lets say Thomas Edison patented the lightbulb. Soon after, somebody invented an "electric candle" (stay with me here). Edison takes one look at the candle and says "It runs on electricity and it produces light, so he must've infringed on my patent" and sues the guy.

There are reasons some things can't be patented, vacuum cleaners, remotes, cars, etc. Have they ever put this patent into use? And if so, did the end result function as a Wiimote would?

Thanks

I got it now. I wish they made it more clear in the post.

always happy to help :D

Wait, was that sarcasm? D:

Well, it depends. If the technology they are suing over is a big part of the Wiimote then Nintendo might be ordered to pay a little more than royalties.

Jack

This is not the first other companies are suing Nintendo. In the last month there was a suing against the DS, the GC controller and Wii remote. And now again the remote.

Guess what? They are just patent trolls who doesnt have a chance to win.

Tell me... why are suing now, after two years?

Yup, Jack is right, if the company is right, and their technology is heavily used by the Wiimote, depending on how they present the case....they could come out of this with a lot...

People who invent and patent things first deserve compensation from companies that re-use their patents & ideas. Its not trolling lol. It take all time to invesgate patents if a comany has thousands of them. Maybe thats why it ttok so long.

No, Jack is wrong. They aren't suing over technology, they're suing over concepts, basically. Read the statement they issued. This is NOT a case of Nintendo taking specific tech that they invented and not paying for it.

They're suing specifically over "a handheld three-dimensional pointing device" and "a navigation interface display system that graphically organizes content for display on a television."

So, a... remote control?

Guys, you have to realize that when patent lawsuits like this pop-up, it may have taken years to research before officially stating intent to declare patent infringement. So many of them occur these days that media outlets usually don't hear of the big ones until it literally is being handled by the higher judicial systems.

Or when the plantiff contacts the media at time of realization that their product is being used without their permission for more hype...

Also, Jack, they own 29 patents and have applied for over 100. Taking years to investigate something like this is not part of the equation.

@Samfish

"a handheld three-dimensional pointing device" and "a navigation interface display system that graphically organizes content for display on a television."

Dude WTF, lol thats what the Wii is. What are you talking about?!

Yes, Jack. EXACTLY.
THAT is why you're missing the point. This is abusing the patent system. It's as absurd as that other company who is trying to sue Nintendo over the DS because they have an idea for video gambling devices that use a touch screen interface.
Apples and oranges.

@Samfish

This isn't the same case.

"a handheld three-dimensional pointing device" and "a navigation interface display system that graphically organizes content for display on a television."

This what the Wiimote is. The Wiimote is a 3 dimensional pointing device that navagates an interface display system that graphacally organizes content on a tv.

What so hard to understand Sam?

They have a good case with this lawsuit.

@jack:

He wasn't saying it wasn't, he was saying the wii wasn't using technologies developed by these people, that only the concepts are similar and THAT is why these patent trolls are suing.

Let me make this easy for you to understand...

"a handheld three-dimensional pointing device"

This is not a new concept. Such concepts have existed for years.

"a navigation interface display system that graphically organizes content for display on a television."

This is also not a new concept. Such concepts have existed for years.

When they go to court, they will argue these two things as separate violations.

The patent system is not meant for companies to come out with broad, vague concepts and then jump when something else that fits within the parameters of that BROAD and VAGUE concept comes along.
It exists to protect one's ideas and concepts from being used without permission.

You shouldn't be allowed to patent "ideas", only devices. Lets say someone patented the idea of breathing through your mouth, and threatened to sue every who did. Unless you can put your patent to use and mass produce it, you shouldn't be granted a patent.

Heres my patent, a service that allows you to watch your favorite music videos and TV shows/movies from your computer. Uh oh, looks like YouTube and Hulu are infringing on my patent, I better shut them down.

I patented the idea of exhaling then inhaling as a way to facilitate gas exchange quicker than static diffusion. Oh look, you all stole my idea and called it "breathing" which infringes on my patent "super-happy gas exchanging." I'm going to sue you all and make a shit-load of money.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

yea , but when did nintendo first show how much cash it made , that's when this all started .

@Psaakyrn

That is exactly the point, I used to think grubby little no name companies do this but, check this story out.

http://latinoreview.com/news/fox-suing-warner-brothers-over-watchmen-5238

Now it is not patent law but it is the same tactic. If you are a company media or tech, doesn't matter. And you see somebody with a better idea you wait, you watch and then you try and get money if it is successful because you can't do much better on your own.

If you didn't click on the link, Fox held distribution right to a big up coming comic book film called Watchmen. Now this comic isn't any old comic, as a comic book fan I probably know tons about it yet I have never read it(to my shame). This comic is the pinnacle of literary work. That being said Fox knows it has had a horrible track record with comic movies. In comes Warner bros who do have the right to make it but that is all. Their track record is somewhat better and they are the ones taking the chance. Fox waits till February 2008 to spring the Law suit on Warner Brothers, just as the movie finishes.

Remember this is A huge comic, tons of respect from the writing and critic community as well, as tons of fans, and non fans waiting to see this on screen. Why didn't Fox holding the rights to distribute the film yell years earlier when it was in production? For the same reason these tech companies say nothing, easy money. Those that can't do Teach, those that can't do nor teach, creep, simple as that.

There is a difference. Fox cannot block anything but distribution because that is what it owns. Basically, it had no case before then, since Fox doesn't own any other right to the movie.

Yo Fish!

I know you're a blox fan, was wondering if you could clue me in on how/where I can download user created levels?! Haven't found anybody to help me out.

its not like BlastWorks :( You need a friend code and WiiConnect24 on, then you can send it to friends.

But Nintendo already owns Japan. Now they're looking to annex the United States.

We got tired of the rest of the world act like they're entitled to our inventions without compensation. But, in this case, gotta side with Nintendo. Can't patent broad concepts that existed in Sci-Fi novels for decades.