Guys, if you're missing any Classic or GameCube controllers you want, you may want to run out and get them now. Bloomberg is reporting that these controller types, along with the out-of-production Wavebird, may be facing a ban due to Nintendo's ongoing patent infringement dispute with Anascape Ltd.

U.S. District Judge Ron Clark in Lufkin, Texas, rejected Nintendo's request for a new trial in the case won by closely held Anascape Ltd. of Tyler, Texas. He said that he would stop sales of the Wii Classic Controller, WaveBird controller and Nintendo GameCube controller. His ban will be put on hold while Nintendo appeals the verdict to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, according to Anascape lawyer Doug Cawley.

The ban was issued on July 23rd, and is... well, on hold now. That could change depending on the outcome of Nintendo's appeal of the verdict. The fact that the case has made it this far means it's not impossible for Anascape to ultimately prevail.

Comments [9]

post a comment

  • First
    • Jump To Page:
    • [ 1 ]
  • Last
GEMPadre036

Pardon my french, you've been pumping out articles faster than... something... funny!... that... pumps out... funny stuff!... I don't have any good metaphors on hand, but seriously, your goin' to TOWN!

feanaro

Sucks. I already have a lot of GameCube controllers, but I better go buy some Classic controllers soon.

Lynxara

@GEM:

Today is the big catch-up of all the news from last week when I was doing E3 stuff. With the backlog hacked through, I can go back to saner post levels tomorrow.

GEMPadre036

Ahhh... But in regards to the article, I REALLY need to go buy more controllers soon... Also, isn't it in effect in Texas already?

Lynxara

Nah, Nintendo's appeal has to resolve before the ban is in effect anywhere.

DoubleUp

I must say that this is getting out of hand. I myself have 4 Gamecube controllers and a classic controller, but what if they eventually wear out? And why is Nintendo getting sued for everything under the sun? Will they be sued for the design of the Wii, or the name "Wii" itself? Damn.

KouAidou

The patent system in the US is basically fucked up to the point where it's incredibly easy for this sort of thing to happen. Just put a patent on a sort of vague description of a technology. Then, if some successful company actually develops it, you can sue them. You can be pretty safe that they'll settle with you just to get the hold on their product lifted as quickly as possible. Remember the rumble dispute from years ago with Sony and Microsoft: Sony challenged, and the result was the SIXAXIS and "uh, our rumble technology won't work anymore."

Basically, it's not unlike people who go around hoarding web addresses.

Lynxara

Sony and Microsoft were originally both involved in this particular patent dispute, which involved game controllers of a particular shape. They just opted to settle while Nintendo was like "hell no."

GEMPadre036

Well, I'm off to go patent the names Wii 2 and PlayStation 4! lol
But this is such total BS.

  • First
    • Jump To Page:
    • [ 1 ]
  • Last

Post a Comment