Nintendo gets hit with (another) patent infringement suit

Looks like the floodgates have been opened for lawsuits against Nintendo. After losing a few million to Anascape over the patents of several of their controllers, the big N is once again slapped with another lawsuit, this time over the motion sensing technology they used for the Wiimote. Details in the full article.

A few months ago, Nintendo lost a lawsuit to Anascape Ltd. over the tech used in several of their controllers. Not only is Nintendo being forced to pay US$ 21 million, but they are also facing a ban to sell their controllers. It looks like it isn’t over for Nintendo yet though.

Another company called Hillcrest Laboratories is now pushing for another lawsuit, this time for the Wiimote‘s motion-control tech and the graphical interface software used on the television. They are looking to block shipments of the Wii and Wiimotes in the US, and have filed a complaint to the US International Trade Commission.

At this rate, Nintendo may have to develop a controller-less console. Nintendo spokesman Yasuhiro Minagawa had this to say: “We haven’t received any notice of the lawsuit and therefore are not in a position to comment at this time.”

• Anascape Ltd. Drags Nintendo and Microsoft to Court
• Nintendo ordered to pay Anascape USD 21 million for patent infringement
• GameCube and Wii Classic Controllers facing ban
• Nintendo’s appeal on reduced US$ 21M verdict denied

Via CVG