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Forums - Nintendo Discussion - Nintendo gets sued over Wii Fit!

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Impulse Technologies a company most famous for suing Microsoft over Kinect is now turning their attention to Nintendo. Impulse Technologies filed a patent for a piece of technology that is very similar to the Wii balance board. Check out the original patents picture below.

 

The similarities seem enough for the company to try and sue Nintendo for all they've got. Much like how Impulse is suing Microsoft , they are seeking damages from all the major publishers which support the balance board or the camera like controls of Kinect. Among those being sued are Electronic Arts (EA Sports Active 2.0), Ubisoft (Gold's Gym Cardio Workout), THQ (UFC Personal Trainer: The Ultimate Fitness System), Namco Bandai (Exerbeat), Konami (Dance Dance Revolution Hottest Party 3), and Majesco (Zumba Fitness 2).

All the companies are supposedly in violation of Impulses patent filed in 1996. Impulse says their patent specifically talks about the interactive entertainment that the device would offer "where the motion of the player is tracked to effect movement of a virtual avatar, and the exertion of the user is monitored."


Impulse Technologies baby company Traq is responsible for the Trazer fitness system. Which according to Impulse is a "interactive sports simulator," I've gotta say that the Trazer system appears to be a lot more like Kinect then WiiFit, though the patent does have various similarities.

I guess this is yet another company trying to get what they feel is owed to them. What do you think does Impulse have a case here? The technology is very similar to what they patented, is that enough to win a lawsuit against Nintendo? In Microsoft's case apparently Impulse not only wants a share of the profits they want the device shelved. Apparently they might seek an injunction against Nintendo's Wii balance board. I wonder if Impulse will go after Sony for their camera?

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-JC7

"In God We Trust - In Games We Play " - Joel Reimer

 

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Suing Kinect? LOL



Yay!!!

It's unfair for small tiny companies to sit on these patents when it's obvious they'll never be able to bring it to the market like MS and Nintendo.

It's also funny they take so long to admit this ... just being greedy, and I doubt they'll get anywhere with either case.



 

Looks like they might be trying to sue too many large companies. All of the gaming companies' lawyers will do a mega crush on this small company.



Seece said:
It's unfair for small tiny companies to sit on these patents when it's obvious they'll never be able to bring it to the market like MS and Nintendo.

It's also funny they take so long to admit this ... just being greedy, and I doubt they'll get anywhere with either case.

It's almost always the case with companies nowadays being sued over their tech. They wait until they see it's a success, then they pull out the sue card.



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sethnintendo said:

Looks like they might be trying to sue too many large companies. All of the gaming companies' lawyers will do a mega crush on this small company.


I wonder how high their combined score will be?



legit. sue MS for all there worth.



MasterVG71782 said:
Seece said:
It's unfair for small tiny companies to sit on these patents when it's obvious they'll never be able to bring it to the market like MS and Nintendo.

It's also funny they take so long to admit this ... just being greedy, and I doubt they'll get anywhere with either case.

It's almost always the case with companies nowadays being sued over their tech. They wait until they see it's a success, then they pull out the sue card.

It does make sense, the small company couldn't possibly turn their product into a success. So watch and wait for the bigger corporation to make it a huge success, then sue them for the profits. Usually the company will try to settle and they want a big chunk of change. In this case however apparently the company wants to stop Kinect from being sold altogether and likely Wii's Balance Board as well.

So what can this small company benefit if Kinect and the balance board are both taken off the market? Its not like their sports entertainment product could compete or replace Kinect or the Balance Board. My bet is they are trying to hold MS and Nintendo hostage they want to milk all the developers dry and then likely take a huge cut in the futures of Kinect or Wii's Balance board. Looking for royalties in the future and a share of all future and past profits.

These guys could have made a success of their product by pitching it to Nintendo or Sony or Microsoft. They probably knew that if they pitched it that the company would either turn them down or would demand more control greater profits. But if the company can pull successful products off the shelves then they can demand anything they want and MS/Nintendo would have very little choice. Either comply or leave their product off shelves.

In the end I think these guys have one of the best cases out of the lunatic companies who have tried suing Nintendo , MS and Sony recently. But I doubt they will win, these big gaming companies are going to bury them either winning directly or bleading their opponent dry in legal fees and making pursuit so difficult it isn't worth them keeping after Nintendo or MS or third parties.



-JC7

"In God We Trust - In Games We Play " - Joel Reimer

 

Flop sue!

Too late.... bye bye!!!



Switch!!!