Nintendo Ordered to Pay $21 Million for Patent Infringement
Posted in Intellectual Property, Microsoft, News, Nintendo, Patent Infringement, Settlement
Yahoo reports that Nintendo of America has recently been ordered to pay $21 million in damages to developer Anascape for patent infringement.
The award is the result of a federal jury verdict in a suit filed by Anascape in 2006. In that suit, Anascape asserted claims against Microsoft and Nintendo for infringement on twelve of the company’s patents, including patents on a “Game controller with analog pressure sensor” and an “Analog Sensor with Snap-Through Tactile Feedback[.]”
Microsoft earlier settled the dispute with Anascape; the details of that settlement remain confidential.
Nintendo spokesman Charlie Scibetta said that the gaming giant will seek an appeal and expects a significant reduction in the award. Fortunately for Nintendo, the ultra-popular Wii controller — both the remote and nunchuck — were not found to infringe upon Anascape’s patents. However, the designs for the Wii Classic, WaveBird, and Gamecube controllers were all found to infringe upon Anascape’s patents.
LOP: Thanks for the tip, Adam!
