Nintendo subject of ITC patent infringement investigation
by David Hinkle 
{ Sep 19th 2008 at 4:23PM }
The ITC (International Trade Commission) has announced that it'll be conducting a probe into the allegations of one Hillcrest Laboratories. Back near the tail end of August, Hillcrest filed a patent infringement suit against Nintendo concerning the motion-sensing aspects of the console. This current report states that Hillcrest claims Nintendo infringed upon 4 different patents. The exact specifics, beyond that, aren't known.In the worst case scenario, the ITC could ban the Wii from the United States. The last time Nintendo lost a patent infringement suit, they paid $21 million. With the 4 violations, they may win some, they may lose some. If they lose this case, we'd say they're putting up a lot more dough than $21 million, though. Or really smart for not sending us all the Wii stock.
[Via Joystiq]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
cbylife @ Sep 19th 2008 5:59PM
wow, as if the wii shortages aren't bad enough. no wiis at all would just be...terrible. all i can say is that i'm glad i have a wii!
Ryan @ Sep 20th 2008 2:53AM
Ban the wii from the U.S. are you F**king kidding me? Doesnt that violate one of the consitutional rights? Damn it, ive been trying to get my hands on a wii for like a month now. LEARN TO KEEP UP WITH DEMAND NINTENDO DAMNIT!
SMcD @ Sep 20th 2008 12:33PM
Whatever happened with that Wavebird/Classic Controller case anyway? Can they still be sold?
Dio @ Sep 20th 2008 7:17PM
Yes. I still see Classic controllers at Wal-Mart.
KaBob799 @ Sep 20th 2008 12:36PM
I wonder if the company realizes how much bad publicity they would get if the wii did get banned.
Dio @ Sep 20th 2008 7:19PM
I would hope that the patent system would be done away with or at least have a rule "use it or lose it".
Atlantis1982 @ Sep 21st 2008 12:24AM
They won't care as long as they get in some money from this.