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Certain Nintendo controllers face retail ban


Nintendo could see its GameCube, Wavebird and Wii Classic Controller banned from retail shelves. Bloomberg reports that Nintendo has lost its attempt to overturn a $21 million patent-infringement verdict brought against the company by patent trolls patent holders Anascape Ltd. of Tyler, Texas. The house of Mario has a stay on the ban by putting the judgment amount in escrow until its case goes to the US Court of Appeals in the Federal Circuit.

The Texas jury found the Wiimote and Nunchuk controllers did not violate Anascape's patent; previously, Sony paid off Anascape back in 2004 and Microsoft settled on May 1, just before the Nintendo trial began. Anascape argued for the ban because it wants to enter the market and Nintendo has "clogged the channel." Yeah, we're very much looking forward to seeing if the third-party Anascape controller ever gets released.

Nintendo ordered to pay $21 million for patent infringement


Nintendo has been ordered to pay $21 million to Anascape Ltd. for infringing on a patent with its Gamecube and Wii Classic controllers. The AP reports Anascape Ltd., a "small East Texas gaming company," also sued Microsoft, but that was settled out of court. Nintendo says it will appeal the decision.

A representative for Nintendo stated that no infringement was found in any of the Wii's motion-sensing technology and it expects that on appeal the award to Anascape will be reduced "significantly." Remember kids, if you want to stick it to some big corporation in the future and cash in, just make patents for everything imaginable.

Microsoft, Nintendo taken to court over controllers


Anascape Ltd has filed suit in a Texas district court against Microsoft and Nintendo for alleged infringements on a variety of controller patents. Check out the full list of patents that this case is going after:
  • 5,999,084: "Variable Conductance Sensor"
  • 6,102,802: "Game Controller with Analog Pressure Sensor"
  • 6,135,886: "Variable Conductance Sensor with Elastomeric Dome Cap"
  • 6,208,271: "Remote Controller with Analog Button"
  • 6,222,525: "Image Controller with Sheet Connected Sensors"
  • 6,343,991: "Game Control with Analog Pressure Sensor"
  • 6,344,791: "Variable Sensor with Tactile Feedback"
  • 6,347,997: "Analog Controls Housed with Electronic Displays"
  • 6,351,205: "Variable Conductance Sensor"
  • 6,400,303: "Remote Controller with Analog Pressure Sensor"
  • 6,563,415: "Analog Sensor with Snap Through Tactile Feedback"
  • 6,906,700: "3D Controller with Vibration"
Phew, that's quite a lot. You can also view a PDF of the complaint here.

[Thanks, Jeremy]

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