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Worlds.com To Extend Virtual World Lawsuit To Second Life, WoW

Posted by Soulskill on from the one-percent-inspiration-ninety-nine-percent-litgation dept.

FiveRings writes "BusinessInsider has a story about Worlds.com, a company that inherited the patent on virtual worlds from the Starlight Starbright Foundation and is taking it to court against NCSoft over the company's various MMOs. If successful, he will press on and sue the makers of Second Life and World of Warcraft as well. The article notes that the NCSoft case is being held in east Texas, which has been a favorable venue for patent trolls in the past."

9 of 106 comments (clear)

  1. Heh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    I'm going to sue God because I came up with the concept of 4-dimensional space-time.

    1. Re:Heh. by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Funny

      I'm going to sue God because I came up with the concept of 4-dimensional space-time.

      Yeah! And when he defends himself, he'll have to say how many dimensions their really are to show the patent doesn't apply. Trick God into verifying string theory!

      --

      The enemies of Democracy are
    2. Re:Heh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      "Your honour, the defendant has failed to appear in court and there is no defense offered. I move to rule in favour of the Plaintiff."

      "Granted. All of space-time up to the 4th dimension is granted to the Plaintiff, an 'Anonymous Coward'. Court adjourned.

  2. Fight fire with fire. by LiquidHAL · · Score: 5, Funny

    Someone needs to patent the patent troll business model and sue this guy for infringement.

  3. 800-pound level 80 Gorilla by Nefarious+Wheel · · Score: 4, Funny

    Blizzard makes a few handy billion per year. I imagine they could front a defense that would make the SCO epic look like a parking infringement notice.

    --
    Do not mock my vision of impractical footwear
  4. Re:Anonymous Coward. by fractoid · · Score: 5, Funny

    New raid instance in 3.1: Fortress of Zul'Enseesoft.

    In the heart of the desert wasteland of Tek Saas, the foreboding fortress looms. Balanced for teams of 10 to 25 players, this raid offers dynamic legal battles, devious new patent challenges and exciting new loot!

    Example Loot:

    [Attaché Case of Litigation]
    Off Hand Briefcase
    Increases intellect by 52
    Decreases social conscience by 22
    "This case looks expensive"

    [The Mighty Pen]
    One Hand Dagger
    Increases writer's strike by 28
    On use: Wraps target in red tape, immobilizing them for 4 seconds.
    "This pen is very sharp."

    --
    Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
  5. Oh please, lemme dream... by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Funny

    Imagine this happening to WoW. Now, imagine Blizzard deciding to say "ok, we'll withdraw from the US market. Btw, dear folks who have been playing for 5+ years now and lose everything that's dear to you, THIS is the company that made us shut down. Maybe you find something creative to do with your life".

    Who said mob rule has to be a bad thing?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  6. 3 AM........sound asleep.... by Anachragnome · · Score: 4, Funny

    I thought I had stumbled into another gamer's nightmare (I have them often)....

    Lead Attorney for the Plaintiff: Your Honor, I intend to prove that NCSoft has intentionally, and willfully, violated the....

    Lead Attorney for NCSoft: FUCK YOU!!

    Lead Attorney for the Plaintiff: Your Honor! I must strenuously object!

    Your Honor: Fuck you!

    It seems one man's nightmare can be another man's wetdream......

  7. Re:Lawsuit can continue only until some local wow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    They're still scheduling the raid. Remember to sign up! Plenty of DPS slots left, NCSoft will be main tank, still looking for heals.