Nintendo pwns Sony ?

[N£TM£ÇH]

Reports are trickling through this evening that Sony has indeed lost its patent case against Immersion technologies and will be forced to halt sales of its PS2 console.

Immersion last year sued Sony for infringing on its patents. Immersion claims that it owns the technology that powers the rumble in Sony's Dual Shock controllers. It also sued Microsoft for its rumble features in the Xbox, but the boys from Redmond settled out of court.

Sony fought on, and lost a case last year. However, it's been allowed to continue selling the PS2 pending appeal. If the latest reports are verified, it's lost that appeal today.

This means that Sony not only has to pony up and awful lot of cash to Immersion Technologies, but it has to stop infringing on the patent - that means stop selling kit which includes Dual Shock technology, and that means pulling the PS2 off the shelf.

Commentators are wondering if this case is the reason for the PS3 controller redesign that we've seen - it's possible the horrendous boomerang monstrosity doesn't infringe on patents.

Interestingly, Immersion is owned in part by Nintendo. The next-generation battle just took another twist...

original article here http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/03..._shock_patent/

[omegatron]

is it true that immersion had this technology in thier vibrators...just some talk i have heard...

[zabolyx]

what I don't understand if the fact that this method of vibration has been around for a long time... the off center balanced wheel (which there is most likely a technical name for it) has been used to cause vibration in thousands of items... so how come a company can take a free technology and patent it for one thing....

It's like patenting motor oil for use in chainsaws.... now any company that uses motor oil in a chainsaw can be used... what the hell...

I still think I should patent writting.. or even better, the use of paper and pen, or pencil together. I'd be rich.... got some homework to do, that will be 5 cents a page buddy. I won't be a total a$$, I'll do 40 cents for 10 pages... for those thesis and reports.

[ps2dragon]

Here's some background information on this court case: http://www.gamespot.com/news/6121323.html, incase anyone wants to read it.

--EDIT:
Looks like I'll still have some time to pick up that extra PS2 controller.

"Don't worry, you'll still be able to pick up the PS2 and all the rest of that stuff in stores?Sony managed to get the injunction stayed while they mount an appeal?but they're almost certainly going to have to pay up sooner or later (sounds like they think that, too, with a Sony spokesperson confirming that they're making arrangements to license Immersion's patents)." - Source Here

[daisukejigen]

So what will they do with the PS2 controller? Find another way to make it vibrate, or just can vibration until the PS3?

[ronetoneps2]

interesting so does that mean all original ps2 controllers will be pulled off the shelves at stores