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Immersion Sues Sony and Microsoft Over Force Feedback

Posted by michael on from the putting-a-damper-on-things dept.

stereoroid writes: "Immersion Corp. has filed a lawsuit against Sony and Microsoft, alleging unauthorised use of their patents - here's their press release. The suit alleges that any use of touch or force feedback in their consoles violates their patents. For some obscure reason, this was first reported in the Irish Times today."

14 of 276 comments (clear)

  1. Heh by Wind_Walker · · Score: 4, Funny
    In other news...

    ...Logitech is sued by God over the use of "mouse"
    ...Barundi tribes sue every computer user because of their "click" language simulated by keyboard presses
    ..."Patch" Adams, the famous doctor, is suing Microsoft over their use of "Patch"

    And, of course, Microsoft patents 1's and 0's :-)

    1. Re:Heh by Lefty2446 · · Score: 1, Funny

      Next they sue the major car companies.

      Ford, Toyota, Mitsubishi, etc, etc...
      For the "force feedback" provided by steering wheels when cornering, the force of bushing a button to make sure it has operated, The vibrations through your seat to tell you when your going over a dirt road.


      Then we are after the tool manufacturers.

      We couldn't have tools that provided feedback, arguably in a Digital environment because of the fact that a nut/screw is either done up properly or it isn't. Two states = Binary.


      The list is neverending, This company does not have to worry about lack of turnover for a LONG time yet.



  2. In other news... by RICE_BOY_TYPE_R · · Score: 5, Funny

    Today, Immersion technologies filed a separate suit against numerous adult "toy" manufacturers for patent infringements relating to a variety of force feedback mechanisms.

    The suit names the makers of "orgasmatron" and the makers of the "king donger 3000"

    --
    I live my life one quarter pounder at a time -Vinh Diesel
  3. Strange... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I thought Newton would've got all the patents in on force feedback...

    1. Re:Strange... by Salsaman · · Score: 3, Funny
      Or Yoda.

      Oh wait, that was the FORCE feedback...

    2. Re:Strange... by Big+Dogs+Cock · · Score: 3, Funny

      He would've expected that any legal action would have an equal but opposite reaction ... and ...

      I'll get me coat.

      --
      "Under the iron bridge, we fist" - The Smiths, Still Ill
  4. Prior Art by jordan_a · · Score: 5, Funny

    Clearly I have prior art claims, since when I was 11 or so my friends and I would take turns hitting each other while we played with our Atari.

    1. Re:Prior Art by PhilHibbs · · Score: 5, Funny

      When one of my friends was playing Revs (F1 racing game) on the BBC Micro, another friend and I picked up his chair, and titled him when he accelerated and went around. We nearly broke his neck when he crashed.

  5. next weeks news... by xtstrike · · Score: 2, Funny

    And In Next Weeks News. Microsofts Hostile Takeover of Immersion Corp

    then the following weeks news:

    Microsoft Files Suit Against Sony Computer Entertainment for Patent Infingement

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  6. Re:Damnit!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    forced-feedback? is that some sort of bondage thing?

  7. Re:Help me understand... by BlueUnderwear · · Score: 5, Funny
    As you point out, there are law firms / patent search organizations that help companies stay alert to relevant patents.

    Yeah. In Italy, there are lots of security firms that help restaurant and shop owners stay alert to relevent threats to their physical security...

    If you don't want to pay those companies, you can do routine searches of your own on the PTO web site.

    If you don't want to pay those companies, you can repair the baseball bat damage and put out the fires on your own.

    Most businesses prefer to pay, though.

    --
    Say no to software patents.
  8. Re:My fav by Neon+Spiral+Injector · · Score: 4, Funny

    It does seem that trend with patents is take some existing technology and "web enable" it. The other technique for coming up with new patents is to tie it to a database.

    Ooo, looking over thier list it doesn't seem they have a patent on "Force feedback with a database backend." I call dibs.

  9. So did any one patent *patenting* by SmoothCriminal · · Score: 1, Funny

    Wouldnt it be cool if someone patented patenting, so he could get a royalty when anyone tried to patents.

    Maybe I check the uspto.gov regarding this

  10. Obscure is right by sharkey · · Score: 3, Funny

    For some obscure reason, this was first reported in the Irish Times today.

    I couldn't find any references to potatoes OR alcohol. Why are the Irish interested?

    --

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