A CASE started in a Texas district court a few days back alleging that Nintendo and Microsoft had breached a game controller patent. Or two. Or more.
Anascape Ltd, a firm based in Texas, alleges that Nintendo and Microsoft breached patent number 5,999,084, called "Variable Conductance Sensor" and issued to Brad Armstrong in 1999.
The firms are also alleged to have breached patents 6,102,802 - "Game Controller with Analog Pressure Sensor", and 6,135,886, "Variable Conductance Sensor with Elastomeric Dome Cap" as well as 6,208,271 "Remote Controller with Analog Button".
No, we're not finished yet. Anascape alleges 6,222,525 "Image Controller with Sheet Connected Sensors" was also breached, as well as 6,343, 991 "Game Control with Analog Pressure Sensor" and 6,344,791 "Variable Sensor with Tactile Feedback".
As well as 6,347,997 "Analog Controls Housed with Electronic Displays", 6,351,205 "Variable Conductance Sensor" (a different one) and 6,400, 303 "Remote Controller with Analog Pressure Sensor" (a different one).
Then there's 6,563,415 "Analog Sensor with Snap Through Tactile Feedback". And lastly, but not leastly, there is 6,906,700 "3D Controller with Vibration".
If you've got this far you won't be surprised to learn that Anascape Ltd wants a court to rule Nintendo and Microsoft owe it a lot of money. |