任天堂今日遭美国专利诉讼案

Toyger

As the old saying goes “When it rains, it pours” – and this year has been a torrential downpour for Nintendo. With lost profits from the 3DS and poor implementation of a second circle pad, the Big N just can’t catch a break.

The latest addition to Nintendo’s problems is a lawsuit claiming the Wii console is infringing on patents filed by ThinkOptical, makers of the Wavit Remote.

This lawsuit which was filed in the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Texas, claims that the whole Wii system infringes on at least three patents, the main one being Patent 7,796,116 “Electronic Equipment for Handheld Vision Based Absolute Pointing System.” ThinkOptical is looking for compensation for lost profits, attorney fees and royalties. This company just doesn’t have their sights set on Nintendo they also include retailers such as WalMart, Gamestop and Radio Shack and others in the suit.

There are definitely some interesting aspects to the case. ThinkOptical claims that Nintendo knew before launching the Wii console that the system infringed on their patents. ThinkOptical based this on Nintendo’s own rejected patent applications:

This fact, combined with the timeframe (the Wii launched over five years ago) makes you wonder why it took so long to file a lawsuit. Perhaps they were waiting to capitalize on the the success of the Wii? If this is the case then ThinkOptical has some poor timing, cause Nintendo is already hurting.

ThinkOptical is also looking down the road at the Wii U when it launches. No, they’re not waiting to play the latest version of Zelda, but claim that Nintendo’s upcoming console also infringes on some of their patents — technology that may not work and delay the Wii U launch. Talk about kicking them when they’re down.

As a Nintendo fan from way back, it’s hard to see the company in this situation. Though if it’s true that Nintendo knew they were stealing ideas from another company, then they have no one else to blame but themselves.

Toyger

Nintendo Sued Over Wii Technology

  俗话说：屋漏偏逢连雨天。这话用在现在的任天堂身上是再适合不过的了。一边是利润损伤的3DS，一边是蹩脚的右摇杆补救，任天堂几近抓狂。
  现在任天堂最新的麻烦又降临了，Wavit Remote生产商ThinkOptical对任天堂的侵犯专利的行为告上了法庭，受理申诉的是美国得克萨斯州东部地方法院，控告任天堂wii主机侵犯ThinkOptical至少三项专利，最主要的是一项专利号为7,796,116的，手持设备定位系统。ThinkOptical要求任天堂支付专利使用费、专利侵害损失费和诉讼费。
   ThinkOptical表示任天堂的wii系统侵害公司专利长达5年之久，之所以现在才提出诉讼是因为要掌握确凿的证据，用他们的话来说这是一场必须打赢的公司，不管对方是多大的公司。
  同时ThinkOptical公司表示他们会对任天堂未来推出的wiiu系统保持跟进，ThinkOptical公司不是想第一时间玩到最新的塞尔达游戏，而是确保wiiu不再继续侵犯他们公司的专利。
  尽管作为任天堂粉丝，这种情况下很难判断是非是在，但是如果任天堂确实侵害他人专利，这种行为绝对是要遭到谴责和鄙视的。

洛雲奧帕爾

前途多難......