Nintendo's Wiimote tapped for patent infringement by Hillcrest Labs

Nintendo just can't seem to keep its nose out of patent troubles, with its highly successful Wii now the target of a new patent lawsuit from Hillcrest Labs, which claims that its patents for "a handheld three-dimensional pointing device" and the gloriously vague "navigation interface display system that graphically organizes content for display on a television" which apparently predate Nintendo's own. At least we're not dealing with a complete patent troll here: Hillcrest Labs does have a product based on its technology, called The Loop remote (pictured left), based on what it calls "Freespace" motion control technology. It's fairly clear Freespace is a much different beast than the Wiimote, and we'd like to believe something so vague as a handheld 3D pointing device (a very un-new concept) isn't enough to best Nintendo in a court of law, but naturally Hillcrest is requesting Nintendo stop shipping Wiis to the States (that shouldn't be hard, huh Nintendo? Yuk, yuk.) and reward Hillcrest with unspecified monetary damages.

[bartoron @ Aug 21st 2008 10:59AM]

The U.S. patent system is a mess.

[Jon Doe. @ Aug 21st 2008 11:05AM]

Remove patent system and I would agree.

[bartoron @ Aug 21st 2008 11:23AM]

No.

[Shadowise @ Aug 21st 2008 11:01AM]

Business Management 101:
If your products aren't selling, sue someone whos products are.

[Techie @ Aug 21st 2008 12:11PM]

And that's why America has the most lawyers in the world combined.

[Geir E @ Aug 21st 2008 12:41PM]

Oh well. I think adding that Logitech MX Air uses this technology might show that it isn't just vaporware:

http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mice_pointers/mice/devices/3443

and anyone used it might have an idea how similar it is to wiimote.

[Dan @ Aug 21st 2008 11:01AM]

Is that original Street Fighter I goodness we see there?

[Codered @ Aug 21st 2008 12:07PM]

That's Street Fighter II.

[meist3r @ Aug 21st 2008 11:37AM]

Looks more like the SNES version of SFII to me.

[Jason @ Aug 21st 2008 12:28PM]

"I love the Power Glove. It's so bad!"

-?-

[ntlam @ Aug 21st 2008 11:09PM]

will engadget get sued for using the similiar scene from street fighter?

[TMFAN @ Aug 21st 2008 11:02AM]

They should null any patents people sit on without any intent on following through with the idea.

Slimy bastards.

[Jon Doe. @ Aug 21st 2008 11:12AM]

Did you read or even LOOK at the post? There is a product. Hell there is a picture there as well.

[j_g_puff @ Aug 21st 2008 11:54AM]

What about people who are good at ideas but bad at following through? Isn't your suggestion a bit unfair on them?

[Zach @ Aug 21st 2008 1:39PM]

Then they should be required to sell their ideas if they cant produce them

[Dakota @ Aug 21st 2008 11:10AM]

the only reason they are doing that is because the wii is now vary successful. Also I would laugh if they won.

[Jon Doe. @ Aug 21st 2008 11:11AM]

There needs to be an expiration date as to when these damn lawsuits are allowed. 1 years time. If a device that is selling more then say 30,000 copies per year isn't challenged within 1 years time its nul and void. If a company is selling 300,000 per year its 6 months. Basically the more a company sells the shorter the time frame. The thinking being its more "out" there.

And then there are the patent lawsuits themselves. The loosing company should be required to pay the legal costs of the winner. It would make these bloodsucking companies who do nothing but sit on patents and sue think twice if it would hit their bottom line that hard.

Are the above the answer? Hell no. But something HAS to be done. This shit is getting ridiculous.

[Roncore @ Aug 21st 2008 11:16AM]

My hat goes off to whoever created the image for this article, that is, if i was wearing a hat.

[Thi mam(kris120890) @ Aug 21st 2008 11:17AM]

I totaly agree with TMFAN patents should be removed from companies that do not come follow with a product or are even in the process of creating in R&D The whole patented idea is just a joke. That remote loop thing isn't in the same league as the nintendo wii and this is coming from a person the doesn't like the wii at all. Nintendo should win, if they don't alot of poeple are going to be unhappy except for microsft xbox (360 is my weapon of choice) and sony both of who are going to have a field day.

[ipubs bastard child @ Aug 22nd 2008 3:58AM]

Given microsofts recent law suit that saw them settle with a third party for a few mil who then went on to sue PS3 for 100 million, I would not be surprised at all if this was instigated by bill gates himself, from his own xbox live account.

[Sam @ Aug 21st 2008 11:19AM]

HADOUKEN

[Jason @ Aug 21st 2008 12:03PM]

TATSUMAKI!!!!!! ---- ***AAIEEEEE!***

[emmzee @ Aug 21st 2008 11:20AM]

I don't understand how Hillcrest could have "monetary damages" in this case. What money did they lose by Nintendo releasing the Wii? Was Hillcrest planning to release their own waggle-controlled video game system? If not, I don't see how they would be owed any money ... (notwithstanding the broken patent system rules of course)

[Kelly @ Aug 21st 2008 11:47AM]

I agree

[Dubb @ Aug 21st 2008 11:49AM]

It's simple, if Hillcrest does indeed have a valid patent, then Nintendo should have licensed the technology from them (i.e. money), since Nintendo did not license it, Hillcrest should be able to collect monetary damage in the same amount of Nintendo's licensing fees, whatever that may be.

[Trae @ Aug 21st 2008 11:26AM]

Doesn't Hillcrest Labs license their tech from Gyration? Doesn't Nintendo also license it from Gyration? This is odd. I will say Gyration labels Nintendo as a "past licensee", though.

[Andy TGD @ Aug 21st 2008 11:26AM]

I smell a patent troll - and it smells like bull s*%t...

[rektide @ Aug 21st 2008 11:31AM]

Hillcrest has had a set top box setup using their motion controller for over 4 years now. They kept snatching up good junior professors when I went to college, occasionally the profs would come and visit and setup ad-hoc demos. So, no, I'd disagree, they're not a patent troll and actually in this case theres a very large probability Nintendo has stolen Hillcrest's technology application.

[Andy TGD @ Aug 21st 2008 12:10PM]

Eh, looks like we'll just have to agree to disagree. After four years of no real progress to sell these boxes it seems to me like they're just trying to go after the big fish. Still seems like troll-ish behaviour to me. It disappoints me that the courts system has simply become another way of generating revenue for failing companies. Having said that, it was nice to know all that about them.

[Rob @ Aug 21st 2008 11:32AM]

I think that might be my new all time favorite picture.

[rcoastsurf @ Aug 21st 2008 11:55AM]

rektide is right. Jon Doe, I absolutely understand your disgust with the patent system and the litigious market that we're in, but maybe you shouldn't immediately assume the worst. Hillcrest is a great example of very bright American engineers getting together to address technical challenges (or voids) that the consumer market faces. And for all of the other naysayers shooting down Hillcrest because of lack of volume, you may want to call Logitech HQ to see how many Freespace-based products they have manufactured.

[Ricardo @ Aug 21st 2008 11:43AM]

"a handheld three-dimensional pointing device"

Any remote control, laser pointer, or even a stick is a handheld three-dimensional pointing device. They should sue nature. Afterall we do live in a 3D world where we use 3D things to point to other things.

[baltwade @ Aug 21st 2008 12:07PM]

I agree. This should be stuck down under the "You can't patent the steering wheel" ruling.

[nak @ Aug 21st 2008 11:55AM]

It's not that I think patents shouldn't be granted, but this is getting ridiculous. It feels like morons are patenting letters from the alphabet, then suing any company that use one.

[Rainier @ Aug 21st 2008 12:15PM]

Down, R, Up, L, Y, B - START

(Yay! Wii vs Wii!)

[Alareth @ Aug 21st 2008 5:05PM]

up up down down left right left right B A

[J.B. @ Aug 21st 2008 12:19PM]

Isn't your own flesh and blood finger a "handheld 3D pointing device"

Just saying...

[JackMabster @ Aug 21st 2008 12:21PM]

wouldnt nintendo's patent from their duck hunt gun, another example of "a handheld three-dimensional pointing device", predate hillcrest's patent

[Jim @ Aug 22nd 2008 2:45AM]

Wouldn't that only be 2 dimensions? Not sure where the Z axis came into play in duck hunt or the light zapper.

[Greg @ Aug 21st 2008 12:23PM]

http://www.hillcrestlabs.com/products/freespace.php

Amazing how you call can badmouth Hillcrest with no knowledge of the lawsuit. Emmzee, whether they were going to release a game system is a moot point. They are suing over patent infringement on the technology. Thi mam, how do you know it's not in the 'same league' have you used one? Didn't think so. If they lose, they lose. If the case is shown to be frivolous, then I agree costs should be paid by the plaintiff.

[Platinum_Skeet @ Aug 21st 2008 2:25PM]

This same thing happens to Microsoft all the time...

It's hard when you're ontop...

[Skeet Skeet! @ Aug 21st 2008 3:40PM]

"It's hard when you're ontop..."

that's what she said

[Alareth @ Aug 21st 2008 5:19PM]

No, this can't be an example of the North American Patent Troll (Ideaus Hoggus) because their natural habitat are the courtrooms of Texas.

This partictular specimen has only been seen in Maryland.

[Jason @ Aug 21st 2008 6:56PM]

Yeah, woo hoo! Yay Marshall! Go Mavs!

[skulldriveshaft @ Aug 21st 2008 11:25PM]

Cross licensing gone bad? (@Trae)

But holy shit, a hand-held three dimensional pointing device, damn, did they patented my foam hand with the middle finger extended?

I guess that's why so many technology companies avoid america completely, and continue to ship junk.

[gold5225 @ Aug 22nd 2008 12:56AM]

Nintendo needs to hire a A class group of lawers after all these crappy lawsuits that scumbag companies think they deserve ok here is the companies site please go and email them like crazy there site is right here http://www.hillcrestlabs.com/

[Austin @ Aug 22nd 2008 2:20AM]

What about the nintendo power glove before this?

[Koto @ Aug 31st 2008 11:45PM]

Though this is inappropriate, my male outer organ can also be "a handheld three-dimensional pointing device", am i going to be sued for something that me and all other men have naturally?