Yahoo! Sues Xfire For Patent Infringement

Posted by timothy on Sunday February 6, 2005 @08:42AM from the patent-as-bully-stick dept.

CheesyPeteza writes "GameSpot is reporting that the popular game messenger client Xfire is being sued by Yahoo for patent infringement. The patent was originally granted to two Yahoo employees who developed GameProwler for Yahoo Messenger. It describes a system which "allows users to use a game server in connection with a messenger server to permit 'buddies' to know when other 'buddies' are playing games online, and easily join such games." One of these employees then left Yahoo to work for Xfire. Xfire denies infringing on Yahoo's patent, but with the costs estimated at $2 million to defend this cas, will the startup company Xfire be able to stand up to the Yahoo giant?"

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Re:Gamespy is guilty too by Anonymous Coward · 2005-02-06 12:43 · Score: -1, Troll

Ah, so you're one of those people who wants a world where 15 year old crack mothers work at McDonalds to support their family of crack addicted children. Sorry, I think we as a society are beyond that sort of thing now. Drugs only confuse people as to their purpose in life, and serve no useful purpose with respect to hard work and real financial reward.