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The Reality of Patent Expirations for the NES

Posted by Zonk on from the not-getting-any-younger dept.

Tashimojo writes "Gamasutra's running a feature entitled 'Nintendo Entertainment System - Expired Patents Do Not Mean Expired Protection', an interesting read. From the article: 'This article originated when the Gamasutra editors noticed a number of online sources such as Wikipedia stating that it was now completely legal to make NES 'clone' consoles, because all of Nintendo's patents regarding the NES had expired. How true was this statement? We asked game IP lawyer S. Gregory Boyd the question: Are the NES patents expired? If so, is a company free to build and sell new NES-like systems?'"

7 of 259 comments (clear)

  1. mmmm... Ikari Warriors by kdawgud · · Score: 2, Funny

    So many sleepless nights...

  2. Re:ROMs? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think it is only fair that the great-great-great-grandchildren of the original copyright owner should benefit too.

  3. IP & QM by TeaQuaffer · · Score: 4, Funny
    Law, particularly IP law, has a lot in common with quantum mechanics. In both fields, answers are often given in the form of probabilities rather than certainties.

    I had a lot of trouble in QM. Now I know why all this IP stuff confuses me too. I guess the new expression is "It doesn't take a IP lawyer" rather than "It doesn't take a rocket scientist" SIGH.

    --
    Sola Deo Gloria!
  4. Re:ROMs? by gid13 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Could a company advertise to the effect of the following?

    "We copied the Nintendo Entertainment System! Play all your old Nintendo games! Buy the Clonebox today!"

  5. Re:Sony.... Brrr! by DECS · · Score: 4, Funny

    It'll be a a cold day in hell when executives are charged with infridgement!

  6. Re:See Digg.com by LordofEntropy · · Score: 3, Funny

    "You're assuming that people come here for news. I'll let you in on a secret: a lot of us don't. We get our news elsewhere. The reason people come here is for the bloody comments..."

    I don't know about you, but I come here for the hot chicks.

    --
    Entropy just isn't what it used to be.
  7. Re:I still fail to see something. by CosmeticLobotamy · · Score: 2, Funny

    Which is why I propose adding the amendment, "Scratch all that other stuff. Just don't be a dick. And give some cash to the government so they can afford to judge severe dickery and push the guilty out to sea on a poorly constructed raft. And also to build roads."