Nintendo Sued over Wiimote Trigger 229
kaizokunami writes "A company named Interlink Electronics, Inc., creator of interface devices has filed a suit in US District court against Nintendo of America, claiming the Nintendo the trigger on the bottom of the Wii controller infringes on their patent. The article includes images submitted with the patent application." From the article: "The complaint alleges that the trigger on the bottom of the Wii controller infringes on Interlink Patent No. 6,850,221 (Trigger Operated Electronic Device), which the company secured on February 1, 2005. Nintendo president Satoru Iwata first presented the Wii controller to the public not too long after that date, during the 2005 Tokyo Game Show."
Um, prior art? (Score:5, Interesting)
Not Infringing? (Score:3, Interesting)
Maybe someone with a little better understanding of patent law, and/or has time to read the patent can enlighten me?
Re:Um, prior art? from the 80s (Score:4, Interesting)
Sounds like someone trying to make a fast buck.
Re:Um, prior art? (Score:3, Interesting)
So obviously not realistic, but when you get down to it and consider the purpose of patents, it would be a good rule IMO.
The patent says it's for a computer not a console (Score:4, Interesting)
Of course IANAL but would this kind of argument stick in court?
Re:Um, prior art? (Score:3, Interesting)
The NES gun was wired and had only one button. The patent [uspto.gov] actually covers a wireless device where there are two buttons: one on the underside, a "trigger", and a second on the top surface, near a natural position of the thumb while the hand is in position for the index finger to use the trigger. Each claim of the patent includes a button or trackpad-like surface on the top side, opposite of the trigger.
Doggy doorbell patent knocked out by UK comic! (Score:3, Interesting)
See http://www.innovation.rca.ac.uk/PD/sw/IP/st_right
Re:Okay... (Score:4, Interesting)
If you want prior art, please pre-date 1995.
OK, here you go. Patent 5724106 (issued to Gateway 2000). This may not be as early of an example as the all the other things people post, but so far I have to believe it is the most relevant, because
1) It has a patent with an original filing date that predates the one in question (continuation of a patent filed Jul. 17, 1995)
2) It is literally a remote control with a trigger
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/5724106.html [freepatentsonline.com]
Also, check out the images on the
USPTO website [uspto.gov] (or get them off that site...you can log in with bug-me-not or create a free account)