Topic: Philips Sues Nintendo Over Wii Remote Tech

[Apollo5]

Nintendo faces more patent litigation.

http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/37455/philips-sues-nintendo-over-wii-remote-tech

Dutch electronics company, Royal Philips NV, has filed suit over what the company believes is infringement of two of its patents by Nintendoā€™s Wii console remote controller.

The patent Philips believes has been infringed upon is  for a ā€œvirtual body control deviceā€ as well as a ā€œuser interface based on a pointing deviceā€. The company hopes to receive compensation for damages as well as a ban of the import of the Wii to the United States.

According to Philips spokesperson Bjorn Teuwsen, Nintendo and Philips had been in negotiations over a possible licensing agreement for the technology since 2011, however, the two sides could not reach an agreement.

Philips filed the suit May 14 at the U.S. Federal District Court in Delaware.

[Leo13]

I guess if Wii remote control is suddenly dropped for pro controller support all of a sudden we'll know why

[marvel_moviefan_2012]

Sour grapes over the Cd-i?

[rlse9]

Does Philips actually still make anything?  I think I owned a CD player made by them about 15 years ago but until this story I can't remember the last time I saw any of their products or heard anything about them.

[pokepal148]

Yeah I assumed they went bankrupt around 2007.

[TheXenocide]

So does it take seven years to get a lawsuit going or something?

[marvel_moviefan_2012]

No they are still alive and healthy they are most famous for their shavers, their Norelco brand is top notch.

[TurdFurgy]

Why and how does Nintendo keep getting themselves into these situations?

[Shaymin]

Because patent trolls gonna patent troll.

[NWR_insanolord]

To give you an idea of how much of a problem patent trolls are, Apple and Google have agreed to stop going after each other over patents and to work together to reform the patent system.

[marvel_moviefan_2012]

To give you an idea of how much of a problem patent trolls are, Apple and Google have agreed to stop going after each other over patents and to work together to reform the patent system.

For normal inventions I see the merits of patents but I am one of those who question the validity of software patents.

[Wah]

Again?!

[Phil]

Was totally thinking pop artists Phillip Phillips was taking Nintendo to task as inspiration for his new single to be used awkwardly and completely out of place in the next Amazing Spider-Man movie. I am disappointed and angry. I'll be okay, though!

[King Bowser Koopa]

This may have little to no relevance of interest, but I was recently diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, and the CPAP machine I use is made by Philips. They're at least still around creating medical devices. I haven't seen any of their multimedia products in years.

[Ceric]

There Really needs to be Squatters rights on these things.

[nickmitch]

I really want to see how Phillips explains how banning Wii imports to the US would improve their business.

[Leo13]

I really want to see how Phillips explains how banning Wii imports to the US would improve their business.

Stopping the imports isn't really what they want. Free money from nintendo is what they really want. If Nintendo would just write them a check and then promise to pay them for every unit they sell in the future Phillips would be happy.

[nickmitch]

Obviously.  But it's obnoxious that the "ask" is there.

[Ian Sane]

When I look at stuff like this I realize something.  I don't really fear getting mugged or murdered.  If you come at me with a gun or a knife there's a chance, though slim, that I can fight you off.  What I really fear is litigation.  Some motherfucker can sue me over complelely made up nonsense and even if I successfully defend myself I still have to pay my lawyer and have to invest all this time into it.  The process itself is effectively a punishment.

This needs some serious reform.  They sue seven years after the Wii came out?  **** off.  That should be automatic dismissal.  This product is far too popular for them to have not have known about it all this time and if you snooze, you lose.  I think the whole court system could be fixed if you need a "warrant" of sorts from a judge to sue.  Cops can't search my house without a court issued warrant because they have to demonstrate that they have just cause to search my house.  Well it should be the same for a lawsuit.  You shouldn't be able to just sue anyone willy nilly.  You should have to demonstrate to a judge that you have just cause to sue and the other party doesn't even have to be involved prior to that.

[BlackNMild2k1]

To give you an idea of how much of a problem patent trolls are, Apple and Google have agreed to stop going after each other over patents and to work together to reform the patent system.

I guess Samsung forgot to show up to that meeting, because Apple & Samsung are all over each other. back and forth.

[BlackNMild2k1]

Does Philips actually still make anything?  I think I owned a CD player made by them about 15 years ago but until this story I can't remember the last time I saw any of their products or heard anything about them.

This may have little to no relevance of interest, but I was recently diagnosed with severe sleep apnea, and the CPAP machine I use is made by Philips. They're at least still around creating medical devices. I haven't seen any of their multimedia products in years.

SoniCare Toothbrush. ever heard of it?
Made by Phillips. Probably the most popular consumer product they make at the moment.

[Stratos]

The problem is that companies need to perform research to determine if their patent was violated. That takes time. Then they try to negotiate with the offending party. Purportedly, Philips had been negotiating with Nintendo for some time before just deciding they were getting nowhere and opened the lawsuit.

[Mythtendo]

This needs some serious reform.  They sue seven years after the Wii came out?  **** off.  That should be automatic dismissal.  This product is far too popular for them to have not have known about it all this time and if you snooze, you lose.

What about that guy who waited over 20 years to sue EA over claims they used his coding without paying him for the 2D Madden games? That was so ridiculous.

[Mop it up]

The concept drawing for the patent is hilarious.