Posts
News: Xbox 360 provides compatability with iPod, PSP
In an elegant display of its interopability, developer Newbie has demonstrated the Xbox 360’s ability to connect to portable media devices such as the PlayStation Portable (PSP) and iPod devices. Read more…
Case: Lewis Galoob v. Nintendo (9th Cir. 1992) [C]
Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. v. Nintendo of America, Inc. 964 F.2d 965 (9th Cir. 1992). I. Background Lewis Galoob Toys developed a device called the Game Genie, which allowed the player of…
News: Xbox modder goes to jail
US District Court hands eight-month sentence to Pandora’s Cube employee for “Super Xboxes.” 31-year-old Hitesh Patel was an employee of Pandora’s Cube, a game retailer in the Washington, DC area. Read article…
News: Frosty Treats v. Sony affirmed by 8th Circuit
On July 25, 2005, the Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit affirmed the Western District of Missouri’s dismissal of Frosty Treat’s complaint against Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. Frosty Treats asserted…
Case: In re Coin Operated Games (ITC 1981) [C,TM]
In Re Coin-Operated Audio-Visual Games and Components Thereof No. 337-TA-87, 214 USPQ 217 (ITC 1981) A complaint was filed against numerous competitors with the U.S. International Trade Commission by Midway Mfg.…
News: Musings About Modding
The ‘hot coffee’ mod for Grand Theft Auto resulted in the game’s rating being changed from Mature to Adults Only. Many games not only don’t mind modding, but the game’s developer actually…
Case: Data East v. Epyx (9th Cir. 1988) [C]
Data East USA, Inc. v. Epyx, Inc. 862 F.2d 204 (9th Cir. 1988). In July 1984, Data East USA, Inc. began distributing in Japan a video game titled “Karate Champ,” and…
News: Marvel Signs Exclusive MMO Deal For XBOX
Microsoft Corp. said on Thursday it won exclusive rights to develop and publish multiplayer online games starring Marvel Enterprises Inc.’s super heroes, including Spider-man, the X-men and the Hulk. The deal covers…
Case: Universal v. Nintendo (2nd Cir. 1984) [TM]
Universal City Studios v. Nintendo Co. Ltd. 746 F.2d 112 (2nd Cir. 1984) Tanks, soldiers, countless helicopters, and even Godzilla were no match for King Kong, so how did Nintendo manage to…
Case: In re Coin Operated Games (ITC 1982) [C,TM]
In Re Coin-Operated Audiovisual Games and Components Thereof (viz. Rally-X and Pac Man) No. 337-TA-105, 218 USPQ 924 (ITC 1982) A complaint was filed against 35 respondents with the U.S. International Trade…
News: Microsoft considers licensing Xbox software IP
Microsoft chairman Bill Gates has hinted that the company is considering licensing the software underlying the Xbox games console to outside companies, in a bid to expand its market share. Read the…
News: Grokster loses at Supreme Court
I would be remiss for not mentioning it. Read the opinion here.
Case: Stern Elec. v. Kaufman (2nd Cir. 1982) [C,TM]
Stern Electronics, Inc. v. Kaufman 669 F.2d 852 (2nd Cir. 1982). I. Background In late 1980, Konami Industry Co., Ltd. developed a video game titled “Scramble,” to which, in early 1981, Stern…
News: In-game property for RENT
Want to play massively multiplayer online games, but don’t want to spend time building up your character’s stats? A new service, GamePal.com, gives anyone the ability to bypass the countless hours it…
News: Xbox game counts in real life
From today’s Washington Post Express: “GAMERS: In an apparent first, the Kansas City T-Bones and Schaumburg Flyers will let the results of two people’s X-Box [sic] baseball game count for the first…
News: Gamer’s Manifesto
A friend of ours forwarded us this link to “A Gamer’s Manifesto.” It’s an interesting read, and I agree with some of it’s “20 things gamers want from the seventh generation of…
News: Speculation regarding Atari’s future
CNN is running a story with some interesting speculation regarding the future of gamemaker Atari.
Case: Midway v. Omni (1st Cir. 1981) [C]
Midway Manufacturing Co. v. Omni Video Games, Inc. 668 F.2d 70 (1st Cir. 1981) Midway, the creator of the games Pac-Man, Rally-X, and Galaxian, sued Omni for copyright infringement of these games.…
Update: Davidson & Associates v. Internet Gateway
The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis will hear arguments at 9 a.m. today in this case that may decide how the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, or DMCA, applies to…
Ponderous: In-game virtual property
Ok, so I’ve started a new category, dubbed “Ponderous,” to indicate posts that are neither a Case summary, case Update, or News. Ponderous posts represent interesting legal topics of discussion that we…