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Several Publishers Sued for Infringing 3D Patent

Posted by Zonk on from the i-have-patented-the-cube-rubiks-pay-up dept.

jok writes "According to a story on GameDaily, law firm McKool Smith is suing several publishers for infringing their patent on a "Method and Apparatus for Spherical Planning", filed in 1988. Among the companies being sued are several big names, such as Square Enix, Electronic Arts, Vivendi Universal, Sega."

4 of 358 comments (clear)

  1. That's what I was thinking! by ahsile · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I quote:

    "Common sense says it's ridiculous, and from a moral standpoint it's outrageous," anonymous employee at major publisher.

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  2. Patents Run Out, Right? by lifeblender · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If that was in 1988, how much longer will that patent last?

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    Playing pornographics games during the day is evil! Play at night!
  3. This is why software patents by antifoidulus · · Score: 5, Interesting

    should expire after 5 years. I am generally an advocate of patents for VERY SPECIFIC things that obviously required a lot of R&D, but lets face it, if you can't make money off a patent in 5 years, you are in the wrong industry........

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    Monstar L
  4. Get ready for the ultimate submarine attack by Progman3K · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It's only a matter of time before China finishes off the rest of the lot.

    China's economy is booming precisely because they don't have any of this ridiculous patenting.

    Once China has the upper hand, it could turn around, rifle through the patents, scoop up all the ones owned by anyone willing to sell them and launch an attack against the remaining copmanies with them.

    Forget missles, baby! Here come the patent-wars!

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