Nintendo Wins Appeal in Controller Patents Case - News
by Gabriel Franco , posted on 13 April 2010 / 3,718 Views
A verdict of an East Texas jury that banned sales of the Nintendo Gamecube controller, Wavebird, and Classic Controller due to patent infringement was overturned today by The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Nintendo was accused by Anascape of infringing on U.S. patents, in May 2008 the jury found that neither the Wii Remote, nor the Nunchuk, infringes on the patent. However, the jury found that the Classic Controller, and the WaveBird and standard controllers for Nintendo GameCube did infringe on the patent.
Today the Federal Circuit’s ruling confirmed that none of Nintendo’s controllers infringe the patent.
Microsoft was also accused in 2008 by Anascape, but the company decided to settle things out of court.
Is this the return of the beloved Wavebird?
FEDERAL CIRCUIT COURT VINDICATES NINTENDO IN PATENT LAWSUIT
Court Overturns Verdict of East Texas Jury
REDMOND, Wash.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Today the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled that none of Nintendo’s video game controllers infringe on a patent asserted by Anascape, Ltd.
Nintendo had been accused by Anascape, Ltd., of infringing on U.S. Patent No. 6,906,700. The case was tried before a jury in the Eastern District of Texas in May 2008. The jury found that neither the motion-sensing Wii Remote™ controller, nor the Nunchuk™ controller, infringes on the patent. However, the jury found that the Classic Controller™ for the Wii™ console, and the WaveBird™ and standard controllers for Nintendo GameCube™ did infringe on the patent. Today’s decision, however, completely reversed the jury’s findings of infringement.
“In 2008, the jury determined that the Wii Remote and Nunchuk did not infringe,” said Nintendo of America General Counsel Rick Flamm. “Today the Federal Circuit’s ruling confirmed that none of Nintendo’s controllers infringe. We appreciate that our position has been vindicated.”
For reference, the case is Anascape, Ltd. v. Nintendo of America Inc. and the citation is 2008-1500.
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All I know is that, this should give way to a Wavebird like Classic Controller update in the near future. Which I will gladly pay money for.
yes that what up cause nintendo do want to keep the wave bird on sheavls and this what we been waiting for
damn can anybody make honest money these day damn
Kind of funny that Nintendo would get sued for infringement on Controllers when all of these other companies are basing their controllers off of the NES one, or some descendant to it.
Poor Anascape. Losing a case like this probably ruins them. Ha-ha.
I'll also lay down a "best controller" ever statement. (For a traditional controller, that is.)
Wavebird was nice but useless to me without rumble. MadCatz had a controller (i think if memory serves well) that had built in rumble and that was always my controller of choice. Without rumble, it was like running around barefoot or going into a convenience store without the shirt and shoes.
@dsps3wii, depends on how you look at it. You could also say that Microsoft is a company that doesn't want to ruin the little guy when they may have a point. Where as Nintendo is the evil giant that doesn't care if someone has a patent, they just take it and then if the small guy protests they will smash their hope and dreams with superior lawyers and other agents from hell. Ofcourse that is just what you ''could'' say, I'm not saying anyone will say that (otherwise Nintendo will smite them naturally).
well, I'm pretty sure it won't get used any more anyways.
dont f with nintendo i love how they are sticking up and fighting these stupid companies that try to say they have the copyrights for nintendo products. it shows u this company is in for a fight to the death and shows u this company is no joke and taking things seriously. unlike microsoft settling with anascape come on grow some and fight. why pay these companies crying saying they got infringed.
@prime: They're wireless, that why.
I love the wavebird controller. It's awesome. Truthfully I have never used a GC normal controller, since I've played my GC games on my Wii using the wavebird controller. It isn't rumble compatible, but Rumbling always annoyed me anyways.
so why are wavebirds better than the original controller??
Sorry don't know much about them
If youre lucky you can find one used at gamestop or on ebay. I bought one posthumorously for my GC games on Wii, never realized how AWESOME the controller is.
Wavebird is the greatest controller made, period.
/me hates patent hogs
@ mysticwolf and SaviorX The wave bird was already discontinued before they were sued. The suit didnt realy stop stop the production; they stopped the production of the regular GC controll.
I hope they bring it back. Im on my last wave bird (been playing the f*ck out of it with SSBB) I lost the reciever to the other one. Which is why if they do, I hope they provide replacement parts.
I wondered why i didn't see Wavebirds anymore...
Wait, is this why Wavebirds were discontinued?
Bastards! I want it back!
now if they would start selling the piece you attach to the gamecube separately I'd be happy. Lost mine so long ago but still have the actual controller.
Please bring back the Wavebird, Nintendo! Mine got broken when I moved house, and ever since I've been stuck within the cable radius of my Wii. (Even used Wavebirds are hard to find in Aus)
Wavebird was my favourite controller ever.
This is still going on? They've been whining about 'copyright infringement' since like 2006. Seriously, do they need free money that badly?
Hope this control is back, it's one of the best and most beautiful controllers in history!
Yeah... like Nintendo copies anyone. :P
