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Patent Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 7,094,153: Virtual space control method

  U.S. Patent No. 7,094,153: Virtual space control method Issued Aug. 22, 2006, to Sony   Summary: The ‘153 patent describes a video game system where the camera viewpoint is changed depending…

Patents
Patent Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 7,097,559: Game system and method for assigning titles to players based on history of playing characteristics

  U.S. Patent No. 7,097,559: Game system and method for assigning titles to  players based on history of playing characteristics Issued Aug. 29, 2006, to Konami   Summary: The ‘559 patent comprises…

Patents
Misc

Job Opening: Patent Arcade Research Intern

Well folks, its almost that time of year again.  Summer.  And we need a Research Intern. If there are any 1L’s or 2L’s (or recent law school grads) looking for something to…

Patent Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 7,115,035: Method for controlling display of messages transmitted/received in network game

  U.S. Patent No. 7,115,035: Method for controlling display of messages transmitted/received in network game Issued Oct. 3, 2006, to Square Enix Summary: The ’035 patent should appeal to anyone who enjoys…

Patents
Patent Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 7,147,560: Selection of targets for attachment

  U.S. Patent No. 7,147,560: Selection of targets for attachment Issued Dec. 12, 2006, to Sony   Summary: The ‘560 patent describes a method used in video game for a character to…

Patents
Patent Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 7,147,562: Input character processing method

  U.S. Patent No. 7,147,562: Input character processing method Issued Dec. 12, 2006, to Sega Summary: The ‘562 patent provides a system during an online game where players can interact with each…

Patents
Patent Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 7,240,093: Use of online messaging to facilitate selection of participants in game play

  U.S. Patent No. 7,240,093: Use of online messaging to facilitate selection of participants in game play Issued July 3, 2007, to Microsoft Summary: The ‘093 describes a system for selecting participants…

Patents
Patent Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 7,311,608: Online game invitations using friends list

U.S. Patent No. 7,311,608: Online game invitations using friends list   Issued Dec. 25, 2007, to Microsoft Summary: The ‘608 patent describes a method for enabling a user to load a game…

Patents
Lawsuits

Banner & Witcoff secures win for Wargaming.net

Banner & Witcoff Wins Video Game Lawsuit for World of Tanks® Developer Wargaming.net March 25, 2013 – Banner & Witcoff, Ltd. is pleased to announce that on March 22, 2013 the United…

Banner & Witcoff v. Wargaming.net Northern District of Illinois patent
Patent Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 7,269,539: Dynamic weather simulation

  U.S. Patent No. 7,269,539: Dynamic weather simulation Issued September 11, 2007, to Microsoft Summary: The ‘539 patent describes a flight simulation computer game which can receive meteorological conditions for a specific…

Patents
Patent Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 7,288,028: Method and apparatus for quickly joining an online game being played by a friend

  U.S. Patent No. 7,288,028: Method and apparatus for quickly joining an online game being played by a friend Issued Oct. 30, 2007, to Microsoft Summary: The ‘028 patent seeks to make…

Patents
Patent Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 7,204,758: Video game apparatus and control method thereof, and program of video game and computer-readable recording medium having program recorded thereon

  U.S. Patent No. 7,204,758: Video game apparatus and control method thereof, and program of video game and computer-readable recording medium having program recorded thereon Issued Apr. 17, 2007, to Square Enix…

Patents
Patent Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 7,349,830: Weather profiles

  U.S. Patent No. 7,349,830: Weather profiles Issued March 25, 2008, to Microsoft Summary: The ‘830 patent, issued to Microsoft, can be used for its popular Flight Simulator game. The patent allows…

Patents
Patent Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 7,454,715: Open grid navigational system

  U.S. Patent No. 7,454,715: Open grid navigational system Issued Nov. 18, 2008, to Microsoft Summary: The ‘715 patent describes a game system which helps a player navigate an open grid within…

Patents
Analysis

Drafting a Social Media Handbook Policy for Developers

Gamasutra has just posted a new article by attorney Preeti Khanolkar regarding drafting a social media handbook policy for developers.  The article covers federal labor law, potential conflicts, FTC endorsement guidelines, and…

Patent Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 7,455,589: Game playing system with assignable attack icons

  U.S. Patent No. 7,455,589: Game playing system with assignable attack icons Issued Nov. 25, 2008, to Sony Summary: The ‘589 patent allows a player to easily target and attack one or…

Patents
Patent Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 7,468,728: Apparatus for controlling a virtual environment

  U.S. Patent No. 7,468,728: Apparatus for controlling a virtual environment Issued Dec. 23, 2008, to Antics Technologies Limited Summary:  The ‘728 patent describes an apparatus for controlling an interactive virtual environment.…

Patents
Patent Analysis

U.S. Patent No. 7,470,195: Camera control for third-person console video game

  U.S. Patent No. 7,470,195: Camera control for third-person console video game Issued Dec. 30, 2008 Summary: The ‘195 patent provides for a change in camera viewpoint during a third-person shooter. This…

Patents
Lawsuits

New Case: Allen v. EA (Tattoo Art)

Courtesy of Law360: Law360, New York (January 07, 2013, 1:01 PM ET) —Electronic Arts Inc. and former NFL running back Ricky Williams were sued recently in Louisiana federal court by a tattoo…

Allen v. EA Copyrights Lawsuits Tattoo
Misc

OUYA: Username Land Rush

I can’t shake my gut feeling that OUYA is going to be bigger than even they realize right now.  Full disclosure: do I know some of the principals there? Yes.  Have I…