bandit
June 13th, 2008, 14:46
Nintendo Co., maker of the Wii video-game system, sued accessory seller Nyko Technologies Inc. over what it says is a knock-off of the Nunchuk remote controller used with the popular system.
Nyko sells a wireless Kama Nunchuk designed to work with the Wii system. Nintendo contends the Nyko product copies its patented designs and infringes its trademarks for the Nunchuk name and packaging. The word "nunchuk'' refers to a martial-arts weapon made from two sticks connected with a chain.
The Nyko product "wholly appropriates the novel shape, design, overall appearance and even the color and materials used in the Nintendo Nunchuk controller,'' Nintendo said in the federal court complaint, filed June 10 in Seattle.
In the Wii system, a player moves the remote and a character on the television screen mimics that motion, such as an underhand throw for bowling or a swing for tennis. Nunchuks are used when the game calls for motion by both hands, for instance when punching in the boxing game in Wii Sports. It's connected to the main remote by a plug and wire.
"We have not knowingly violated anyone's intellectual property and we're still examining this,'' Nyko spokesman C.C. Swiney said yesterday in a telephone interview.
The Kama Nunchuk, which is advertised as avoiding the "restrictive wires'' of the Nintendo Nunchuk, sells for $33.99 on Amazon.com Inc.'s Web site. Nintendo's Wii Nunchuk sells for $19.99.
Nintendo, based in Kyoto with U.S. offices in Redmond, Washington, accuses Nyko of infringing two design patents and its trademarks. The company asked the court to order Nyko to stop selling the wireless controller, and seeks cash compensation.
Source: Bloomberg (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aTHHORLXkQjU)
Nyko sells a wireless Kama Nunchuk designed to work with the Wii system. Nintendo contends the Nyko product copies its patented designs and infringes its trademarks for the Nunchuk name and packaging. The word "nunchuk'' refers to a martial-arts weapon made from two sticks connected with a chain.
The Nyko product "wholly appropriates the novel shape, design, overall appearance and even the color and materials used in the Nintendo Nunchuk controller,'' Nintendo said in the federal court complaint, filed June 10 in Seattle.
In the Wii system, a player moves the remote and a character on the television screen mimics that motion, such as an underhand throw for bowling or a swing for tennis. Nunchuks are used when the game calls for motion by both hands, for instance when punching in the boxing game in Wii Sports. It's connected to the main remote by a plug and wire.
"We have not knowingly violated anyone's intellectual property and we're still examining this,'' Nyko spokesman C.C. Swiney said yesterday in a telephone interview.
The Kama Nunchuk, which is advertised as avoiding the "restrictive wires'' of the Nintendo Nunchuk, sells for $33.99 on Amazon.com Inc.'s Web site. Nintendo's Wii Nunchuk sells for $19.99.
Nintendo, based in Kyoto with U.S. offices in Redmond, Washington, accuses Nyko of infringing two design patents and its trademarks. The company asked the court to order Nyko to stop selling the wireless controller, and seeks cash compensation.
Source: Bloomberg (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aTHHORLXkQjU)