Nintendo Lose Patent Lawsuit, Owe $21 Million
In 2006, a small Texan company by the name of Anascape Ltd. took Nintendo and Microsoft to court, claiming the pair had infringed on patents Anascape held relating to game controllers (presumably this one, filed in 2000, for a "3D controller with vibration"). While Microsoft decided to settle things out of court, Nintendo stuck to their guns, a move which has now cost them $21 million after a Federal jury ruled in Anascape's favour. The ruling applies to Nintendo's GameCube, Wavebird and Classic controllers (but not the Wii Remote or Nunchuk). Nintendo have said only that they plan to appeal, and that they expect the court to "significantly" reduce the amount of money they have to cough up.
1. I can see why Microsoft settled. Even when they win a suit, it's a PR loss. That's likely why they settle with Immersion.
2. So the Rumble Pack is different enough not to count, but the Classic Controller does?
3. From the way that's put, I think Nintendo is willing to pay. They just want to go through other possibilities first, to keep face. It's not as though Nintendo would have trouble making up. Just release Mario Party 9 or something.
If they do drag this out, then I'm haning my head in shame.
A flashy-first game is awesome when it comes out. A great-first game is awesome forever.
Plus, just for the hell of it: Kelly Brook at the 2008 BAFTAs
