Post by: Chozo Ghost on June 20, 2007, 03:27:50 AM
My question is, how can they do this? Didn't Nintendo patent these innovations? I thought a patent was good for 20 years or something like that. The D-pad is surely out of patent by now, but what about the analog stick? Companies like Immersion have sued for violating their rumble patent, but why hasn't Nintendo ever sued anyone for taking their ideas?
This is just something I don't understand. It isn't a good business decision on the part of Nintendo to allow Sony or MS to copy their wiimote in the future. Same with the touchscreen gaming...
I'm not really an expert on Patents, but I thought they worked to keep competitors from stealing your ideas. If they don't in fact work this way, then what good are they?
Post by: S-U-P-E-R on June 20, 2007, 03:45:53 AM
Post by: Ceric on June 20, 2007, 03:50:54 AM
Post by: BranDonk Kong on June 20, 2007, 04:19:27 AM
Post by: UltimatePartyBear on June 20, 2007, 04:54:13 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Brandogg
Know what's kind of funny - Immersion sued my post is a train wreck for using their technology, and my post is a train wreck settled out of court, fast forward a few years, and now my post is a train wreck is suing Immersion for not holding up their end of the deal.
I
this forum.I'm pretty sure Gunpei Yokoi invented the D-pad as we know it, but most of Nintendo's control innovations really are examples of applying existing technology to games. That doesn't make it any less innovative, but it does mean Nintendo doesn't have as much control over the patents as they'd need to lock out the competition.
Post by: Chozo Ghost on June 20, 2007, 05:25:47 AM
Post by: nitsu niflheim on June 20, 2007, 06:44:09 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Brandogg
Know what's kind of funny - Immersion sued my post is a train wreck for using their technology, and my post is a train wreck settled out of court, fast forward a few years, and now my post is a train wreck is suing Immersion for not holding up their end of the deal.
hilarious because of the filter (which doesn't filter when you are typing and quoting someone!)
Post by: vudu on June 20, 2007, 06:50:33 AM
QuoteIt's not simply a slight cosmetic tweak. In the case of the D-Pad, Sony's works in a completely different way than Nintendo's. They get the same end result but in two different ways. Think of it like the difference between a jet-engine and a propeller plane; both let a heavy tube of metal fly through the air, but the mechanics are very different.
Slight cosmetic tweaks shouldn't allow companies to bypass patents, should they?
Post by: denjet78 on June 20, 2007, 07:01:08 AM
And yes, most of Nintendo's inventions have been repurposing technology from other fields for gaming. But, it's not like they don't do the actual leg work themselves, something Sony and MS never have. That's why Immersion couldn't sue them over rumble. The rumble technology they developed was their own and couldn't be connected with Immersion's designs at all. That's why all these Wii lawsuits will eventually get kicked. Nintendo actually does their own homework.
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on June 20, 2007, 07:27:32 AM
Post by: Chozo Ghost on June 20, 2007, 07:51:11 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: denjet78
Considering how screwed up the patent system is here in the US I'm all for just doing away with them all together (See the number of lawsuits against Wii for incredibly idiotic reasons). There are companies that have been created for the sole purpose of filing for pattens for already existing technology and then suing everyone over them. The system is beyond broken.
I'm inclined to agree. Weren't Patents originally designed so people like Benjamin Franklin and Edison could get credit and profit for things like Bifocals and the light bulb? Nowadays we still have discoveries, but it seems like the patents are held by large companies rather than individuals, and seem to be encouraging the development of monopolies and retarded lawsuits... It needs a major overhaul, or be scrapped entirely.
It seems like you can't even break wind without violating someone's patent these days.... lol
Post by: stevey on June 20, 2007, 08:16:36 AM
On an unrelated note, I'm off to patent office
Post by: ShyGuy on June 20, 2007, 02:14:20 PM
Post by: that Baby guy on June 20, 2007, 02:25:44 PM
Post by: Kairon on June 20, 2007, 02:44:55 PM
Quote
Originally posted by: ShyGuy
This just in Stevey: invented Bifocals, The Franklin Stove, and the Fire Department. Case still pending on Flying-kites-in-a-storm patent.
I checked. He also has a patent on electricity.
Post by: Shift Key on June 20, 2007, 03:01:13 PM
Post by: tiamat1990 on June 25, 2007, 12:01:46 AM
Post by: Shift Key on June 25, 2007, 12:27:05 AM
Quote
Originally posted by: Chozo Ghost
They both have already stolen the D-Pad and Analog stick from Nintendo's previous consoles.
...
This is just something I don't understand.
...
I'm not really an expert on Patents,
Quote
Originally posted by: tiamat1990
Nintendo could file a patent if they created the technology I think.
Quote
Originally posted by: thatguy
I know that I was the one who fostered the first American libraries, and no one can steal that achievement from me!
thatguy gets mentioned because you can't invent libraries. my gut told me so.
