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Wands and the Wii
The makers of the interactive game “MagiQuest,” Creative Kingdoms LLC, have filed an International Trade Commission (ITC) complaint against Nintendo alleging that the importation of the Wii infringes its patents relating to motion-activated handheld devices. MagiQuest is a live-action adventure game, often installed at tourist destinations, where players use a wireless infra-red wand to interact with scattered physical objects. In its complaint, Creative Kingdoms claims that its patents covering these wands also cover the Wii motion controller. The complaint states: “The distinguishing feature of both MagiQuest and the Wii system is a motion-activated, portable wireless handheld device that facilities a physically interactive play experience for participants… Nintendo infringes U.S. Patent Numbers 7,500,917; 7,761,637; 7,850,527; and 7,896,742 through importation of its Wii system and remote control.” The goal of a complaint at the ITC is to block the importation of the infringing product (the Wii, in this case) into the U.S.… Continue Reading
>Nintendo Granted Summary Judgment in V-Chip Lawsuit
>Nintendo of America Inc., producer of the Wii home video game console, scored a victory on June 2, 2009, when a federal district judge in the Central District of California granted Nintendo’s motion for summary judgment, holding that the Wii does not infringe a V-chip censoring technology patent. Nintendo had asserted all along that the parental controls that allow Wii users to selectively prevent the play of games based on Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) classifications were fundamentally different than the technology taught by the patents, which are owned by Guardian Media Technologies, Ltd., a Texas-based limited partnership and non-practicing entity. The court’s findings of fact and conclusions of law, issued on June 8, 2009, identify such a fundamental difference and justified Nintendo’s opposition of a complaint that has already prompted several defendants settle with Guardian rather than see the matter through to trial. Not just a victory for Nintendo,… Continue Reading
>ADC v. Microsoft Update
>ADC Technology, based in Nagoya, Japan, launched a patent infringement suit in October, 2008, against Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo, accusing them of infringing five ADC patents relating to interactive communication in video games. The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington on Monday granted ADC’s voluntary motion to dismiss Sony, leaving only Microsoft and Nintendo as the remaining defendants. ADC alleges that the Xbox 360 video game console (with Xbox Live) violates five, and the Wii, three, of the patents at issue.ADC is asserting Patent Numbers 6,193,520, 6,488,508, 6,702,585 and 6,875,021, all titled “Interactive communication system for communicating video game and karaoke software”; and Patent Number 5,775,995 titled, “Interactive communication system for communicating video.” The patents describe a remote distribution system that allows customers to download software for use on devices and charges those players a fee for using the downloaded software. The case is still in its… Continue Reading
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