Nintendo Facing Controller Ban Over Patent Lawsuit

**Shrygue** · July 22nd, 2008, 19:52

via Kotaku

Getting your hands on a Wavebird, Classic Controller, or Nintendo GameCube could shortly become very difficult as Nintendo faces a ban on all three devices, following a failed attempt to overturn the verdict in a $21-million dollar patent infringement suit brought on by Texas-based Anascape Ltd. U.S. District Judge Ron Clark plans on issuing the ban on these Nintendo products tomorrow, giving the company a chance to avoid the ban by posting bond or placing royalties in an Escrow account. According to Anascape lawyer Doug Cawley, the ban will be placed on hold while Nintendo appears on the Federal level.

"Nintendo was already planning to appeal this case to the Federal Circuit court,'' Nintendo spokesman Charlie Scibetta said in an e-mailed statement. ``The recent ruling by the trial court does not impact that decision.''

Note that the ban does not affect the Wii remote or nunchuck controllers - just the standard controllers that include analog sticks.

**Demonic_Cr0w** · July 22nd, 2008, 20:06

What exactly does the patent protect? Cus this is all bull crap. It's been a long while since the gamecube was released. they're just doing it for the money. It's bull$#@!.

**whYeNQue** · July 22nd, 2008, 21:10

Back in July 2006, Anascape Ltd. sued Microsoft and Nintendo over various game controller patents, including United States Patent Numbers 5,999,084; 6,102,802; 6,135,886; 6,208,271; 6,222,525; 6,343,991; 6,344,791; 6,347,997; 6,351,205; 6,400,303; 6,563,415; and 6,906,700. Microsoft settled for an undisclosed sum on May 1, apparently before trial. Nintendo, however, fought on... to no avail.

Link

**agenericperson** · July 22nd, 2008, 21:30

I reserve judgment till I see what exactly Nintendo supposedly infringed on.

**vicious1988** · July 22nd, 2008, 22:00

search here
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/

**elgoog** · July 22nd, 2008, 22:12

Originally Posted by Demonic_Cr0w

What exactly does the patent protect? Cus this is all bull crap. It's been a long while since the gamecube was released. they're just doing it for the money. It's bull$#@!.

Yeah I agree, I mena there are so many variations of the classic controller. All the individual brand names have all of thier variations, but does this company sue them? No. Thats becasue they are just a load of money-hogging industrialists.

(Wow that was deep, I should really join a protest of summthing.)

**icecoolwas** · July 22nd, 2008, 23:13

Im guessing I should buy a classic controller soon before they're off the shelves..

**Kaeruyaki** · July 23rd, 2008, 01:31

Patent trolls are just the worst. We ALL have to pay more money because of these people who create cryptic patents, then wait until after a product does well to take legal action, ensuring they get a piece of what isn't theirs.
Ever since Immersion $#@!d the industry, every Jo Shmoe is trying to get a piece as well. It's certainly not good for any industry, especially the already-thin-profit-margin gaming industry.

**AndrewArsonn** · July 23rd, 2008, 06:27

I'd shoot myself if I was any kind of sort of staff of "Anascape".
So they invented every controller out? gtfo.
Pathetic company in my opinion.
I'd consider a kid with a friggin lemonade stand more legit than those retards.