AfterDawn: News

Nintendo sued over Wii-mote patents

Marking the second time this year that Nintendo has been sued over patent disputes relating to their controllers, Hillcrest Labs has announced they have filed complaints for patent infringement against the gaming giant.

The company says the motion sensing Wii-mote is far too similar to its own "The Loop" remote and is asking the judge to stop the import of Wii consoles into the US along with monetary damages.



Hillcrest claims it "owns three patents related to 'a handheld three-dimensional pointing device,' and another on a 'navigation interface display system that graphically organizes content for display on a television'."

"While Hillcrest Labs has a great deal of respect for Nintendo and the Wii, Hillcrest Labs believes that Nintendo is in clear violation of its patents and has taken this action to protect its intellectual property rights," Hillcrest Labs added in a statement.

Nintendo of America said they have not yet received the filings and therefore could not comment.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 21 Aug 2008 2:28

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• 18 comments

• H08

  wow everything is about money now isnt it. Soon Sony, Microsoft And Nintendo Will Go Out Of Buisness Because Of All These "Patent Disputes"

  21.8.2008 02:33 #1

• Xplorer4

  
  
  The Loop

  21.8.2008 02:42 #2

• vcbc

  Originally posted by Xplorer4:
  
  The Loopwtf? looks weird.

  21.8.2008 02:59 #3

• dragnandy

  Quote:
  wtf? looks weird.what are you talking about, it looks exactly like this...
  
  
  

  21.8.2008 03:08 #4

• dragnandy

  sorry double post

  21.8.2008 03:08 #5

• SSSJDanny

  The Loop looks like its easier to toss than the Wii-Mote. lol

  21.8.2008 03:21 #6

• vcbc

  Quote:Quote:
  wtf? looks weird.what are you talking about, it looks exactly like this...
  
  
  How does it look exactly like that? The Loop looked like a watch like think with a mouse like buttons. The wiimote is like a remote...
  
  ?...?...?...
  
  It does look like something u would want to toss, but i dont think there is a feature like the wiimote bowling where u acually swing the wiimote forward or anythin like that.even if u do the ring like design might hit your hand when u accidentally toss it.

  21.8.2008 03:34 #7

• gallagher

  Patent laws and copyright laws need to be revised.

  21.8.2008 03:40 #8

• susieqbbb

  if the loop and the wii remote look the same someone is on some major crack.

  21.8.2008 03:44 #9

• Blackjax

  Don't be so dense folks it's called sarcasm.

  21.8.2008 04:07 #10

• vcbc

  Originally posted by Blackjax: Don't be so dense folks it's called sarcasm.lol, thats what i though, but i am really tired right now, so i couldnt really tell.

  21.8.2008 04:30 #11

• SGSeries2

  "Wii racing wheel"? Hardly. The Wii racing wheel is just a piece of plastic. If that is what this dispute is over, they have no grounds as far as I'm concerned.

  21.8.2008 08:59 #12

• DSWarrior

  LOL! These guys are funny...they're arguing about copyright violations of something that no one even knows what it is...The Loop...HA! Really looks like a watch with mouse buttons like someone said above me.
  
  These guys must be near bankrupt and are hoping to hit the jackpot on the court...morons...

  21.8.2008 09:02 #13

• varnull

  How does it relate to United States Patent 6937227 ??? a "handheld pointing device for organising content displayed on a screen" patent filed around 1998 as a replacement for mouse and using a usb connector.
  
  They are saying it infringes on U.S. Patent Nos. 7,158,118, 7,262,760, and 7,414,611, related to “a handheld three-dimensional pointing device,” as well as U.S. Patent No. 7,139,983, concerning “a navigation interface display system that graphically organizes content for display on a television.”
  
  It sounds like they themselves may be stealing somebody elses IP there.. hahaha. Something needs to be done about the state of the US patent office. Clearly people are being allowed to patent ideas they haven't thought of first (Thompson industries/mp3 fiasco for example)

  21.8.2008 10:17 #14

• H08

  Originally posted by Xplorer4:
  
  The Loopwow if the judge takes a look at this piece of SH$#T Nintendo Will Win

  21.8.2008 12:49 #15

• squidge37

  Yeah because this is the first time Nintendo has had a three-dimensional you wave around in the air.
  
  Oh wait
  
  The freakin POWER GLOVE. Come on now.

  21.8.2008 15:59 #16

• vcbc

  Originally posted by squidge37: Yeah because this is the first time Nintendo has had a three-dimensional you wave around in the air.
  
  Oh wait
  
  The freakin POWER GLOVE. Come on now.The power glove was sh*t i remember having that thing i hated it i couldnt figure that thing out.

  21.8.2008 20:47 #17

• VidJunkie

  Does Hillcrest Labs actually have any products on the market, or under development, that use the technology described in their patent? ...or are they one of those organizations that files dozens of patent applications based on analysis of future product trends and then sits back and waits for some company to "infringe" on their patent rights so they can collect in court?

  22.8.2008 14:53 #18