Philips has a patent related bone to pick with Nintendo and is seeking a sales ban on both the Wii and Wii U consoles.
Claiming that Nintendo has infringed on a number of its patents and intellectual properties, Philips has sought a sales ban from a US court on the already ailing consoles.
According to the Dutch manufacturer, both the Wii and more recent Wii U infringe of two Philips held patents.
The first – entitled “Virtual Body Control Device” – relates to technologies and software used to track a person’s body and movements in order to accurately replicate them within a virtual environment.
Importantly for Philips, the patent – filed back in 1996 – makes specific reference to the technology’s use within a ‘gaming’ environment.
The second patent acting as a point of contention is entitled “User Interface System Based on Pointing Device”.
As its name suggests, this, according to Philips, covers Nintendo’s Wiimotes and how they communicate with the console to navigate menus and in-game action, simply by pointing the peripheral at the screen.
It is reported that Philips first contacted Nintendo regarding potential patent infringements back in 2011. With the struggling Japanese gaming giant failing to satisfy Philip’s concerns, the audio, TV and appliance maker is now getting the courts involved.
In Philips’ court filing, which has been submitted to The District of Delaware in the US, it is detailed that the case will ultimately be decided by a jury
The court filing claims: “Nintendo has made, used, sold, offered for sale, and imported within the United States products with interactive virtual modelling features, including but not limited to motion-controlled gaming consoles and motion-detecting devices.”
It goes on to reference both the Wii and Wii U, as well as a wide range of peripherals for the two consoles.
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Via: NintendoLife
