http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=auBjZ2akiatY&refer=home

Aug. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Nintendo Co., the maker of the top- selling video-game console, was sued by a Maryland electronics laboratory that claims its motion-control inventions are being used in the Wii system.

Hillcrest Laboratories Inc. seeks to block imports of the Wii and Wii remotes, according to a complaint filed today with the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington. Hillcrest also filed a civil suit in federal court in Greenbelt, Maryland.

Three of the Hillcrest patents are for motion-control technology and a fourth is for graphical interface software used on the television. Kyoto, Japan-based Nintendo makes the Wii, a machine that plays games by swinging a motion-sensing controller like a bat, tennis racket or other item.

Rockville-based Hillcrest said it licenses its motion- control technology, called Freespace, to Logitech International SA, Universal Electronics Inc. and other companies. The graphic interface technology, called Home, is licensed to companies that Hillcrest declined to name.

``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,'' the company said in a statement.

ITC Can Block Imports

The lawsuit, which seeks cash, is likely to be put on hold while the ITC case proceeds. The ITC has the power to block imports of products found to infringe U.S. patents. It typically agrees to investigate complaints and issues a decision in about 15 months.

The Wii is the best-selling game console in the U.S., with 555,000 units sold during the month of July alone. Nintendo said the Wii accounts for 49 percent of the console market, citing researcher NPD Group Inc.

Nintendo has had other patent-infringement complaints filed against it as the Wii gained popularity. The company is facing a ban on the Wii Classic controller, which is sold separately from the Wii system, unless it can convince an appeals court to overturn a $21 million verdict won by Anascape Ltd. of Tyler, Texas.

Lawsuits over the Wii or Nintendo's other products are pending in federal courts in Texas, Pittsburgh, Chicago and Wilmington, Delaware.

The case is In the Matter of Video Game Machines, complaint 2631, U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington. The civil suit is Hillcrest Laboratories Inc. v. Nintendo Co., 08cv2199, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland (Greenbelt).

Wait what?

the american market? most probably not, what gives?

Wow.... how late is this?

Why has it taken them so long to figure out that whatever they make is somehow in the Wii.

I think I'm going to put out a patent on patenting technology with no intention to produce a product in order to generate revenue by suing large companies that did develop a product.

you work at anascape too?

I guess they must've heard Nintendo made $1 billion.....

Aren't they a Wii bit late?..... 3 years?

*see what I did there?*

I wish them good luck against big Ninty.

Nintendo had 49% of console sales in July by NPD (against PS3, 360, and PS2).

everyone always sues Nintendo -_-