Posted Jul 07, 2008 at 10:27PM by Sally B. Listed in: News Tags: lawsuits, CRT, patent, Illinois
Ó

John Martin Nintendo alwsuit - Image 1  


Yes, patent lawsuits against big gaming companies are still alive after a short period of reprieve: John Martin, an Illinois native, sued Nintendo for allegedly infringing on one of his patents of an "electronic device game system" with its highly popular Nintendo DS. Here is part of the description of Martin's patented device, as stated in the patent application:

An electronic game device system [which] is switchable between an amusement mode and a gaming or gambling mode and is useful for vehicles such as airplanes or boats which move geographically from jurisdictions where gambling is legal to jurisdictions where it is not...


An improved method of operating a touch screen on a CRT or ICD computer screen uses finger release as input registering... Mounting arrangements for mounting computer screens or monitors are also disclosed...


Of course, Nintendo denies infringing the patent. There is also one big snag in Martin's claims: the Nintendo DS was released in 2004, while Martin's patent for the gaming table (as described above) is dated on August 2005.

Apparently, Martin is also planning to serve Apple with a similar lawsuit soon, but details are not available as of this moment. Will his case hold water, however? We'll soon find out as we get wind of any developments in the near future.

Buy: [Nintendo DS Lite] [Via GamePolitics] Permalink  |   Email this  |   Linking Blogs   |   Digg It!

Bookmark / Find this article on:


8 Comments


Sort by:
   by Advertising -
   by p0op - 2008-07-07
 » .

First it was people suing because McDonalds made them fat, then people were suing because their coffee was hot, now this idiot is suing Nintendo for a patent he putting on something, which he describes in his patent, very vague and ungeneral. Idiots will sue for anything nowadays.

   by kloplop321 - 2008-07-08
 » yeah, but.

I don't see how the government just doesn't drop stuff like that. I mean you got fat by putting it in your mouth with you OWN hand! not some McDonalds employee.

   by Xastabus - 2008-07-08
 » Attention Mr. Clueless Inventor

Someone might want to inform him that touch screen CRTs have long since been patented, manufactured, and gone out of style like moon-boots. They were largely used in Point Of Sale terminals (read, Cash Registers). You can probably still find them in some retail space today.

Seriously, a CRT?!? Are we living in the stone age and lugging around "portable" games that weigh more than my backpack in highschool?

Furthermore, what the hell is an "ICD"?!? I know Liquid Crystal Displays (LCD) screens are commonly used today. The DS has two of them, but you could hardly call patient infringement for that. PDAs have had LCD touchscreens for years. People can play games on PDAs too. I'm pretty sure that's where Nintendo got the idea in the first place.

Oh yeah, and claiming infringement on something that was produced BEFORE your patent... this doesn't have a leg to stand on.


   Re: Tekkenlord - 2008-07-08
 » You are the ones clueless

Do u even think this dude is clueless or "fool" of fool he has not even one cell, he OBVIOUSLY is on purpouse doing this, the real reason, not being "worried" abaout his o se dear "patent" (i mean come on" i think he's more worried for his FINANCIAL status, but man get this ***** to get a job and get his money like all the honest people do and not by making scams, simply patehtic

   Re: MikeyMike01 - 2008-07-09
 » .

Speak English.
   by Josh1billion - 2008-07-08
 » Too many lawsuits

It's a frustrating world we live in when any time you come up with a new idea, you have to spend hours upon hours of research to see if anyone did anything vaguely similar in the past (or didn't and patented it anyway).

And even then, things like this happen.

   by FreePlay - 2008-07-09
 » LOL

"There is also one big snag in Martin's claims: the Nintendo DS was released in 2004, while Martin's patent for the gaming table (as described above) is dated on August 2005. "

Case dismissed with prejudice. The judge won't even consider it.

   by Lunisneko - 2008-07-10
 » Nyko Kama anyone?

How's it feel Nintendo? Huh? How's that feel *****?



Add QJ.NET
Add to My Yahoo!
Google Reader Subscribe with Bloglines
Add  to your Kinja digest Subscribe in NewsGator Online
Subscribe with Pluck RSS reader Add 'www.qj.net' to Newsburst from CNET News.com
Subscribe with SearchFox RSS del.icio.us www.qj.net
Add to Technorati Favorite! Add to My AOL
furl! it Stumble for Treehugger!

 Username: 
 Password:
Forgot password
New user registration



Categories
Emulators
Titles
Archives