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.
posted Aug 21st 2008 10:50AM
The U.S. patent system is a mess.
Remove patent system and I would agree.
No.
Business Management 101:
If your products aren't selling, sue someone whos products are.
And that's why America has the most lawyers in the world combined.
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.
Is that original Street Fighter I goodness we see there?
That's Street Fighter II.
Looks more like the SNES version of SFII to me.
"I love the Power Glove. It's so bad!"
-?-
will engadget get sued for using the similiar scene from street fighter?
They should null any patents people sit on without any intent on following through with the idea.
Slimy bastards.
Did you read or even LOOK at the post? There is a product. Hell there is a picture there as well.
What about people who are good at ideas but bad at following through? Isn't your suggestion a bit unfair on them?
Then they should be required to sell their ideas if they cant produce them
the only reason they are doing that is because the wii is now vary successful. Also I would laugh if they won.
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.
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)
I agree
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.
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.
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.
My hat goes off to whoever created the image for this article, that is, if i was wearing a hat.
HADOUKEN
TATSUMAKI!!!!!! ---- ***AAIEEEEE!***
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/
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.
I smell a patent troll - and it smells like bull s*%t...
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.
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.
I think that might be my new all time favorite picture.
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.
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.
"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.
I agree. This should be stuck down under the "You can't patent the steering wheel" ruling.
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.
Down, R, Up, L, Y, B - START
(Yay! Wii vs Wii!)
up up down down left right left right B A
Isn't your own flesh and blood finger a "handheld 3D pointing device"
Just saying...
wouldnt nintendo's patent from their duck hunt gun, another example of "a handheld three-dimensional pointing device", predate hillcrest's patent
Wouldn't that only be 2 dimensions? Not sure where the Z axis came into play in duck hunt or the light zapper.
This same thing happens to Microsoft all the time...
It's hard when you're ontop...
"It's hard when you're ontop..."
that's what she said
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.
Yeah, woo hoo! Yay Marshall! Go Mavs!
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.
What about the nintendo power glove before this?
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?