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Patent Suit Against Nintendo, Microsoft Dismissed
Saul J writes with an update to the patent lawsuit that was filed by Fenner Investments back in 2007 against Nintendo and Microsoft. The suit alleged that the two companies had infringed upon a patent for a joystick port interface. The trial was set to begin today, but now Judge Leonard Davis of the US District Court in Tyler, Texas has ruled that there is no need for a jury trial. One of Nintendo's lawyers said, "Nintendo has a long history of developing innovative products while respecting the intellectual property rights of others. We also vigorously defend patent lawsuits when we firmly believe that we have not infringed another party's patent, despite the risks that this policy entails."
I have only scanned the patent, however.... I see Nintendos+Microsofts point, can you seriously patent a simple circuit whos main component is a DQ flip-flop in 2001. The other major component seems to be an RC network. The whole device would seem to be an encoder circuit. (possibly patentable in 1960) I don't know about law (especially US law), however as I understand it this would only be eligible for copyright protection under EU law.
Disclaimer: I know nothing about the law and the above is only my personal opinion.
Not just the PC; I recall the Apple II used an analog joystick as well, and the Atari 400/800 used the same method described in the abstract for their paddle controllers. Those were in the market nearly 20 years before the patent was even filed!