Wii-mote Patent Lawsuit

[bystander]

A company called Interlink are suing Nintendo over their Wii mote controller stating it infringes on one of their patents (link):

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.

Would the N64 controller be considered as prior art in this case? It had that trigger-like Z button on the underside of it...

 

[scooby_dooby]

Would the N64 controller be considered as prior art in this case? It had that trigger-like Z button on the underside of it...

It appears to be a one handed, wireless pointing device:

 

[Skrying]

It always amazes me what can be patented.

 

[hey69]

somebody should patent sex

 

[Graham]

I have a patent filed for 'method and apparatus for one handed eating of a hot dog or cake device'.


But seriously, how can you patent what finger presses a button? I've used a bunch of wirelss mice and presentation thingymabobs that do just that.

 

[Nesh]

What the hell? They patent almost anything in existence, and then they sue someone for infringement of an extremely generic patent No.71824567957613257075625 of something that couldnt even be suspected.

Next all companies will be scared to develop anything in fear someone will come out and sue them for any kind of stupid insignificant generic feature on their product.

 

[Dave]

What the hell? They patent almost anything in existence, and then they sue someone for infringement of an extremely generic patent No.71824567957613257075625 of something that couldnt even be suspected.

Next all companies will be scared to develop anything in fear someone will come out and sue them for any kind of stupid insignificant generic feature on their product.

It is funny that they talk about having their own sales possibly damaged when they are entirely different markets! It is nothing more than a ploy to get some $$$.

-Dave

 

[Nesh]

It is funny that they talk about having their own sales possibly damaged when they are entirely different markets! It is nothing more than a ploy to get some $$$.

-Dave

So true

 

[fearsomepirate]

Haven't triggers on one-handed devices been around since the 17th century?

 

[BRiT]

Haven't triggers on one-handed devices been around since the 17th century?

When was the first handgun created?

 

[Cheezdoodles]

When was the first handgun created?

During the time of the Song dynasty in China, 11th-13th century CE, portable firearms were introduced in the form of bronze tubes (based on the firelance designs) that fired rounds iron balls.

Around the late 1400s in Europe, smaller and portable hand-held cannons were developed, creating in effect the first smooth-boore personal firearm.

 

[V3]

It appears to be a one handed, wireless pointing device:

Yeah but Nintendo has the lightgun since when ? NES ?

 

[MfA]

If I were Nintendo I would be asking Gateway if they still owned the rights to these 2 patents, which predate the 1995 interlink patent ...

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...5,650,831.PN.&OS=PN/5,650,831&RS=PN/5,650,831
http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-...5,675,390.PN.&OS=PN/5,675,390&RS=PN/5,675,390

 

[AlNom]

somebody should patent sex

It's either Ron Jeremy or Hugh Hefner. I'd check but... I'm afraid of searching those names.

 

[Fu3lFr3nzy]

It's either Ron Jeremy or Hugh Hefner. I'd check but... I'm afraid of searching those names.

nice one.

 

[Acert93]

It appears to be a one handed, wireless pointing device:

Hmmm I am wondering... the instructions for the N64 controller also included single handed use (or also one controller in each hand for dual analog). Not wireless, but arguably an extension of the concept.

 

[NavNucST3]

I thought Nintendo invested in Gyration not just for the wiimote tech but their patents as well, my thinking, was specifically to head-off an infringement case such as this.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I thought Nintendo invested in Gyration not just for the wiimote tech but their patents as well, my thinking, was specifically to head-off an infringement case such as this.

That probably covers motion control methods, but not 'having a trigger on a remote control'

 

[NavNucST3]

That probably covers motion control methods, but not 'having a trigger on a remote control'

The Gyration mouse has a trigger on the remote control.

EDIT: I can't find the original Gyration model# I used to use at work. But there is indeed a trigger on its underside which activates it.

 

[bystander]

The Gyration mouse has a trigger on the remote control.

EDIT: I can't find the original Gyration model# I used to use at work. But there is indeed a trigger on its underside which activates it.

Was it the Gyration Ultra Professional mouse?