Texas firm Anascape has filed suit against Microsoft and Nintendo, alleging that the two companies infringed on patents relating to videogame hardware and controller technology.
The suit names patents for a “Game controller with analog pressure sensor(s)” and a “Remote controller with analog button”, plus a “3D controller with vibration”, amongst others. The 12 patents were obtained by Californian Brad Armstrong between 1999 and 2005, though he began filing them in 1996.
So, who’s Brad Armstrong? Who’s Anascape?
I’m thinking that someone didn’t do their homework….
This couild be another case of Patent mining. Let’s see how this shakes out.
Wonder why Sony isn’t mentioned in this? Sony’s dual shock controller is the basis for just about every other game controller out there. However it was Nintendo that basically introduced “game pads” where you primarily use your thumbs to play on a relative flat device.
At the risk of inviting the wrath of the Wikipedia critic, here is a nice break down on the Analog stick http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_stick
Great, more nonsense to clog up the court system.
2 companies out of HOW MANY???
#3, Jason, Good link.
Just one more example of what’s wrong with the patent system. It needs a thourough go-over. One suggestion (I’ll leave thinking through the reprecussions to you folks). If you can’t prove you’re in the process of capitalizing a patent within 10 years (or even five), you lose it – this eliminates patent mining, yet gives a reasonable amount of time to use legitimate patents – apply this retroactively to cut out all old patent mines, and then take a serious look through the backlog (yes, this will cost billions) to eliminate the more ridiculous ones)
We at Patentrakker have been trying to help get the crap out of the system before the patents are issued. We currently post prior art seach results for EACH AND EVERY published US Patent Application updated weekly at on Google Base, or at http://ideacop.com
We have prior art for all Anascape Patents as well. If you want to review the reports, just drop us a request or visit http://ideacop.com