Posts
Case: Ahn v. Midway (N.D. Ill 1997) [C]
Ahn et al. v. Midway Mfg Co. et al. 965 F.Supp 1134 (N.D. Ill 1997) (Order on Motion for Summary Judgment) I always look forward to reading a video game case that…
Article: Patenting of Video Games
Gamasutra.com is presently running an article which Steve Chang and I wrote as their feature article: *** Today’s feature, subtitled ‘Top Mythconceptions on Patent Protection of Video Games’ and from IP lawyers…
News: Tecmo Settles Nude Patch Lawsuit
Japanese publisher and developer Tecmo has settled its lawsuit against fan website Ninjahacker.net, after more than four months of legal action. The lawsuit began after Tecmo accused the site’s operators of creating…
Case: Accolade v. Distinctive (N.D.Cal. 1990) [C]
Accolade, Inc. v. Distinctive Software, Inc. 1990 WL 180239 (N.D.Cal. 1990) Accolade was seeking a preliminary injunction again Distinctive Software, which makes this case intriguing because Distinctive is a developer for whom…
News: Video game developers and actors want more money
A couple posts on the Workplace Blog highlight the allegation that video game programmers often work insane hours without getting properly paid for them, and union actors want a piece of the…
Case: Alpex v. Nintendo (Fed. Cir. 1996) [P]
Alpex Computer Corp. v. Nintendo Co. 102 F.3d 1214 (Fed. Cir. 1996) I. Background In the mid-1970’s, Alpex Computer Corporation developed and patented a new home video game system technology using removable,…
Case: Midway v. Dirkschneider (D.Neb. 1983) [C] – Dirkschneider II
Midway Mfg. Co. v. Dirkschneider et al. 571 F.Supp 282 (D.Neb. 1983) (“Dirkschneider II”) In this follow up to Dirkschneider I, the court grants summary judgment to Midway with respect to Midway’s…
Case: Midway v. Dirkschneider (D.Neb. 1981) [C] – Dirkschneider I
Midway Mfg. Co., v. Dirkschneider et al. 543 F. Supp 466 (D. Neb. 1981) In one of the earliest decisions in a video game infringement case, the court issues a preliminary injunction…
New Look for the Patent Arcade
We’re experiementing with new web site templates, so please bear with us as we undergo renovations…
Update: Home Gambling Network v. Piche et al. (P) [D.Nev.] NEW CASE
Home Gambling Network et al. v. Piche et al., CV-S-05-0610-KJD-LRL (D.Nev, filed May 16, 2005) On May 14, 2012, A federal judge in Nevada on May 14 reversed a magistrate judge’s recommendation…
News: B.A. in Mortal Combat? It’s about time!
In what is being compared to the first filmmaking schools of the ’30s and ’40s, the University of Denver Department of Computer Science is offering four new degree programs: Bachelor of Arts…
Update: Konami v. Roxor Games (P) [E.D.Tex]
Konami Corporation v. Roxor Games Inc., 2-05CV-173 (E.D.Tex), filed May 9, 2005. Konami Corporation has filed a lawsuit against Roxor Games, Inc., in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of…
Case: Midway v. Artic Int’l (C) [7th Cir.] 1983
Midway Mfg. Co. v. Artic. Int’l, Inc., 704 F.2d 1009 (7th Cir. 1983), cert. denied, 464 U.S. 823 (1983). Galaxian is a video that is something of a cross between Space Invaders…
Case: Williams Elec. v. Artic Int’l (C) [ 3rd. Cir] 1982
Williams Electronics, Inc. v. Artic International, Inc., 685 F.2d 870, 215 USPQ 405 (3rd Cir. 1982) The game is Williams’ arcade game Defender, which many of us remember with fondness: Artic sold…
Update: Marvel v. NCSoft (C) (TM) [C.D. Cal.] 2005
MARVEL ENTERPRISES, INC., et al. v. NCSOFT CORPORATION, et al. No. CV 04-9253RGKPLAX. C.D. Cal. March 9, 2005. The case is in the early stages, and the present ruling is on a…
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Case: Atari v. JS&A (C) [N.D. Ill.] 1983
ATARI, INC., Plaintiff, v. JS & A GROUP, INC., Defendant. 597 F.Supp. 5 (N.D. Ill. 1983) This appears to be the first case to analyze and consider 17 U.S.C. sec. 117, which…
News: Game Institute launched; IP more important than ever
The below press release was released yesterday by Gatlin Education Services, which is now offering classes to teach individuals how to hone their skills for use in the video game industry. Citing…
Case: Atari v. North American Phillips Consumer Electronics (C) [7th Cir.] 1982
Atari, Inc. v. North American Philips Consumer Electronics Corp., 672 F.2d 607 (7th Cir. 1982) In this early case regarding copyright protection of video games, the court addresses the issue of determining…
News: Video Game Industry Continues Strong Growth
The following Reuters release provides more evidence that the video game industry continues to increase its market share. A company’s intellectual property in its video games can provide critical legal protection to…