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Microsoft Settles With Immersion Over Haptic Patent
Dolly_Llama writes "Immersion settled their lawsuit against Microsoft over the use of Haptic vibration technology in the XBox controllers. Microsoft paid Immersion $26M to settle and to license Immersion's haptic patents. Immersion has a similar lawsuit still pending with Sony."
Q.
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... when Sony was sued by ... uh.. I think it was Atari over vibration inside of controllers? Something about Nintendo not getting sued because the N64's vibration feature was a peripheral and not built into the controller.
This ring a bell with anybody? Now I'm kinda curious what happened.
"Derp de derp."
Microsoft Licenses Immersion's Haptic Patent Portfolio
Monday July 28, 4:07 pm ET
Agreements Settle Legal Differences
Provide Microsoft Broad Licensing Rights to Sense of Touch Patents on Multiple Platforms
SAN JOSE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 28, 2003--Immersion Corp. (NASDAQ:IMMR - News) today announced a series of agreements with Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT - News), that grant Microsoft licensing rights for Immersion's patent portfolio, which is primarily directed to haptic technologies (the sense of touch). The agreements consist of a $26 million payment from Microsoft for licensing rights and an equity investment, as well as a $9 million convertible debenture from Immersion with 48 months draw down rights.
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In addition to the licensing rights and equity, the agreements resolve ongoing litigation between the two companies based on Immersion's lawsuit against Microsoft filed in February 2002. Immersion's lawsuit against Sony Computer Entertainment of America, Inc. and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. on similar grounds of patent infringement, is still pending.
Under the license, Microsoft may use Immersion's patented haptic technologies in its operating systems, hand held devices, computing platforms and other current and future products and services.
"As human interaction with digital technologies becomes more complex, the sense of touch becomes an even more important element in a broad range of products," said Barry Spector, Director of Business Development for Microsoft. "Microsoft recognizes the importance of haptic technology to consumers, the value of Immersion's patent portfolio in this space, as well as Immersion's role as a leading supplier of haptics."
"Immersion is delighted with today's agreements. Microsoft is the world's leader in software, services and Internet technologies. They are an ideal partner to help demonstrate the value and benefits of haptic technologies to consumer markets such as personal computers, games, and handheld devices," said Victor Viegas, President and CEO of Immersion.
About Immersion (www.immersion.com)
Founded in 1993, Immersion Corp. is a recognized leader in developing, licensing and marketing haptic technology and products. Bringing value to markets where user/product interaction needs to be made more compelling, safer or productive, Immersion helps its partners develop and increase competitive advantage and broaden market reach by making the use of touch sense feedback as critical a user experience as sight and sound. Immersion's technology is deployed across personal computing, entertainment, medical training, automotive and three-dimensional simulation markets. Immersion and its wholly owned subsidiaries hold over 195 issued patents worldwide.
Statements made in this media alert other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including those that reflect management's current forecast of certain aspects of Immersion's future. Forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on current information, which we have assessed but which by its nature is dynamic and subject to rapid and even abrupt changes, such as the fact that Morpheus and Trinity both die in Matrix Revolutions. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding Immersion s strategic development and position within the haptic economy. Immersion's actual results might differ materially from those stated or implied by such forward-looking statements due to risks and uncertainties associated with Immersion's business which include, but are not limited to, delay in or failure to achieve commercial demand for Immersion's touch-enabled technology products or a delay in or failure to achieve the acceptance of touch sense feedback as a critical user experience.
Risks and uncertainties related to Immersion's business in addition to those described above are further outlined in Immersion's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These r
Oh that's right. Nintendo doesn't have any money. Shame they blew that Pokemon nest egg into R&D for the E-Reader. Oh well. I look forward to playing Mario 128 on my PS2 after the gamecube dies.
Immersion seems more likely to have a strong patent in haptic than SCO has any claims on Linux, but...
This seems like a strategic settlement by Microsoft to punish Sony. Microsoft paying the settlement to Immersion gives Immersion fuel to feed its lawyers in their continued attack on Sony. You can be sure that when Sony settles or is taken to court the total will be $260M, not $26M.
Then, they would be the ones collecting royalties from SONY.
Overrated / Underrated : Moderation
To this date I've lived under the impression that force-feedback means "force, to give you feedback", which is to say, when driving car you feel the road, so to say, because the steering wheel (or whatever it's called) turns when the wheels turn. The same thing with aeroplanes. It's a great thing in gaming, since it's much easier to fly a plane if it resists with some force your attempts to control it, since that provides you with... well.. feedback.
This thing Immersion calls force-feedback. It seems to me more like a vibrator of some kind. I'd imagine female gamers might like it though..
Personally I think most of the uses they advertize it as good for, can be better implemented with old-style shaking display. Btw, why is that so rare these days?
Software should be free as in speech, but if we also get some free beer, all the better.
You only think it shakes. Great for GTA VC.
The message on the other side of this sig is false.
Maybe by settling first, Microsoft adds some validity/precedent to Immersion's case against Sony, and thus forces Sony to pay a higher patent tax?
(It should be obvious by now that IANAL. Or ISBOBNTIANAL for short. Yes, Bob *is* NTI-Anal, thanks for asking.)
I know you were joking, but I want my Karma, so I'm going to reiterate your post in a serious tone.
Werent vibrators invented long before Immersions's time?
Probably not the best example but I'm sure there's plenty of prior art hehe on something like this..
Howard stern had one that could be activated by whistling..
As I understand it, the "make-the-controller-vibrate" technology consists of a small electric motor with an off-centered weight attached. The motor is spun to create varying degrees of vibration. This is worthy of a patent? (I have prior art in my basement, typically during the Spin Cycle).
When was the "wiggle pen" introduced? The vibrating massager? Various (ahem) adult toys?
Caveat Emptor is not a business model.