| Raze said: ... Yes and no, patents cover the mechanics of a device. If you read a patent, should it exist, it will read something like "Wired connectivity motion controller device accessory using BlueTooth technology" ...if the patent passes, then no one else can use that same method without permission. Obviously, diagrams of its functionaity must be provided. The point is, if Nintendo does hold a patent for the nunchuck, Sony cant just make a direct knockoff. They would have to add another clown nose to the left handed device, and allow it to be tracked by camera input only. Depending who has the original license for the tech on thumb sticks, Sony might not even have the capacity of adding a thumb control device to the unit ... |
One note: a patent might be filed, and yet nullified in court when the owner tries to enforce it. At that point further prior art searches can be conducted and can demonstrate that the alleged infringer might be obviously extending a widely known idea or mechanic that predates the filing.
Which is all the more relevant if the fabled "arc nunchunk" is nothing but a lighter wireless controller with less buttons and only one analog stick. I doubt very much that any patent filed by Nintendo can be enforced to cover every wireless controller made to be held in one hand.
