Nintendo Settles Patent Case That Could Have Banned U.S. Wii Sales

August 25, 2009

Nintendo has settled a patent infringement case that could have blocked sales of the Wii in the United States, reports Bloomberg.

As GamePolitics noted last September, Hillcrest Labs not only sued Nintendo, but filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission, alleging that the Wii's motion control system infringed upon the Maryland-based company's patents.

Nearly a year (and lots of attorney fees) later, on August 21st, Nintendo and Hillcrest advised the USITC that they had reached an agreement. Financial details were not made public.

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Comments

Re: Nintendo Settles Patent Case That Could Have Banned ...

Submitted by The Hangd Man on Tue, 08/25/2009 - 18:20.

I must say I am a little dissapointed that this was settled out of court. I really wanted to know what patents were being infringed on, if they were specific components they were compaining about or if they were laying claim to all motion controlled remotes.

In recent years, there have been several cases filed against the likes of Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft for elements in their systems, and the cases are coming out long after the systems have been on the market, which to me seems like it's just greed in action. Perhaps its about time for the patent system to get a good look over, no?

I hate broccoli/ and think it totally sucks/ Why isn't it meat?

Re: Nintendo Settles Patent Case That Could Have Banned ...

Submitted by JDKJ on Wed, 08/26/2009 - 05:17.

By visiting the USPTO's website you should be able to search for patents registered by Hillcrest. Reviewing the results of that search should enable you to identify patents that relate to motion-controlled remotes and the specific elements of that technology to which Hillcrest lays claim.

Re: Nintendo Settles Patent Case That Could Have Banned ...

Submitted by jedidethfreak on Thu, 08/27/2009 - 19:24.

I checked the PTO website and searched for Hillcrest. I found a patent for a motion-controlled mouse based on a three-axis system that looked far more advanced than what's in the Wii remote. I don't see Nintendo as actually having stolen said technology, but it looked close enough to me that I would probably have filed suit.

---

He was dead when I got here.

--- With the first link, the chain is forged.

Re: Nintendo Settles Patent Case That Could Have Banned ...

Submitted by MonkeyPeaches on Tue, 08/25/2009 - 15:29.

Now, if I could only find one.

Re: Nintendo Settles Patent Case That Could Have Banned ...

Submitted by E. Zachary Knight on Tue, 08/25/2009 - 15:36.

Have you not been to a store recently? Do you not shop at Amazon.com? These things are as common as any other game system now. If I were to walk into Target right now, I would find at least 10.

E. Zachary Knight
Oklahoma City Chapter of the ECA
http://www.theeca.com/chapters_oklahoma

E. Zachary Knight
Divine Knight Gaming
OK Game Devs
Random Tower

Re: Nintendo Settles Patent Case That Could Have Banned ...

Submitted by MonkeyPeaches on Tue, 08/25/2009 - 16:57.

My local best buy is always out, my local target is always out, my local shopko is always out, I do not have a credit card.

Re: Nintendo Settles Patent Case That Could Have Banned ...

Submitted by PHX Corp on Tue, 08/25/2009 - 14:10.

Well I can breathe a sigh of relief

Watching JT on GP is just like watching an episode of Jerry springer only as funny as the fights

America has just became its own version of the Jerry Springer Show after a bizarre moment in Florida involving a carnival worker.

Re: Nintendo Settles Patent Case That Could Have Banned ...

Submitted by killatia on Tue, 08/25/2009 - 09:49.

Well im glad that the wii isn't gonna get banned in the USA.

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

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Shout box

Sleaker: @PHX Corp, I can't take a person seriously that is less frightened at the possibility of privacy issues, and more scared about controller feedback technology05/25/2013 - 11:35am

PHX Corp: http://www.unwinnable.com/2013/05/24/trigger-warning/ Trigger Warning05/25/2013 - 6:37am

beemoh: Unless that pic of a Kinect taped to the underside of a phone is a joke05/25/2013 - 1:58am

beemoh: Kinect being used in prototype to stop people walking into people while texting: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-2263173105/25/2013 - 1:57am

Cecil475: @hellfire7885 - Makes me want to support Nintendo even more.05/24/2013 - 4:49pm

hellfire7885: Man, EA seems to be determined to destroy the Wii U ,and the evidently are so arrogant as to believe not making games for it will do that.05/24/2013 - 4:45pm

DorthLous: Pwahahahha http://www.destructoid.com/wii-u-sales-drastically-spike-after-xbox-one-presentation-254449.phtml#LlG8HEYbQj2krql5.0105/24/2013 - 2:23pm

james_fudge: she gets no credit until she employs some common sense. - 2 credits for her.05/24/2013 - 11:22am

Andrew Eisen: To Stender's credit, she did unmoderate my most recent comment within a day's time. There's even a couple other replies. None from her though.05/24/2013 - 11:18am

james_fudge: apparently gamers are all 14 - 21 years-olds living in basements according to her way of thinking...05/24/2013 - 11:11am

ZippyDSMlee: EZK: 0_o thier video card chipset is at the very least 3 versions behind the top PC video card.......05/24/2013 - 7:38am

MechaTama31: "You just wouldn't understand how my parenting preferences are more important than everybody else's freedoms."05/24/2013 - 7:37am

DorthLous: I love how she plays the "I'm a parent, you're a gamer, you couldn't understand" card... I'm a parent and I find her position despicable...05/23/2013 - 4:16pm

E. Zachary Knight: She didn't address your questions because she doesn't have any answers.05/23/2013 - 3:38pm

Andrew Eisen: I replied to her comment. Maybe in a few weeks I'll get a reply.05/23/2013 - 3:24pm

Thomas Riordan: @Andrew Eisen To what bowling alley does she go that puts sexual images in the faces of 6 year olds?05/23/2013 - 3:17pm

Andrew Eisen: Well, it took a month but Linda Stender finally replied to me... and didn't address a single one of my questions. http://aswlindastender.com/2013/04/23/follow-up-video-games-and-their-effect-on-children/05/23/2013 - 3:13pm

Imautobot: Also, from a tech perspective the PS4 is apparently already winning. http://bgr.com/2013/05/22/xbox-one-vs-playstation-4-specs/05/23/2013 - 3:12pm

Imautobot: Sony's PS4 motto should be "We play games." Microsoft's should be "We play games, when we're not rewinding your tapes."05/23/2013 - 3:11pm

Andrew Eisen: Oh look, Dying Light was just announced For Everything But Wii U. That's 73.05/23/2013 - 2:06pm

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