Patents
Coming soon: New book on Video Game IP Law
We’re getting close… Stay tuned for more information about our new book. I am one of the editors, along with others from my committee at the American Bar Association: Computer Games and…
SAVING PROGRESS…DO NOT SHUT OFF CONSOLE
Every gamer has anxiously awaited this message to appear – you may have just beaten the final boss level after several unsuccessful attempts or you may have finally beaten a friend’s high…
Case Update: Konami and Harmonix AGREE on something!
In an interesting development in the ongoing dispute between Harmonix and Konami over the hammer-on technology in the Rock Band/Guitar Hero games, they have filed a JOINT motion to stay proceedings: Date…
Beneficial Innovations, Inc. v. Blockdot, Inc. et al.
As previously reported, Beneficial Innovations, Inc. (“Beneficial”) filed suit in the Eastern District of Texas accusing several entities of willfully infringing claims of U.S. Pat. No. 6,712,702 entitled “Method and system for…
Case Update: Innovention Toys v. MGA Entertainment Inc.
Further to our previous report, a motion for reconsideration was filed by MGA Entertainment Inc. and the retailer defendants in this case, and on November 17, 2009, that motion was denied by…
Checkmate for Innovention?
Innovention Toys LLC (“Innovention”) previously filed suit against MGA Entertainment Inc., Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Toys R Us Inc. for allegedly infringing U.S. Patent No. 7,264,242, (“the ‘242 patent”) entitled “Light Reflecting…
Back on Stage in the Guitar Hero/Gibson Suit?
Harmonix Music Systems, Inc., along with a host of game retailers, is asking a court in Tennessee to resume proceedings in a patent suit brought by Gibson Guitar Corporation over the “Guitar…
Article: The great free beer debate…
A colleague from across the pond, David Musker of RGC Jenkins, forwarded to me an interesting (and humorous) article that he wrote back in 2007. It’s a funny tongue-in-cheek perspective on the…
Case Update: Worlds.com v. NCSoft (E.D.Tex., filed Dec. 24, 2008)
This litigation has been transferred to the Northern District of California (San Francisco Division). Specifically, NCSoft filed a motion in the Eastern District of Texas alleging that, other than the marketing and…
Case Update: Worlds.com v. NCSoft
Nothing major, but it does look like the case management conference was conducted on Sep. 14, and the claim construction hearing, i.e., Markman hearing, has been set for June 8, 2010: Minute…
Wi-Fi Oh No! Bandspeed Sues Sony, Nintendo and Apple
Wi-Fi network company Bandspeed, Inc. has filed a patent infringement suit against Sony Electronics Inc., Nintendo of America, Inc. and Apple, Inc. In the suit, Bandspeed alleges that the Sony PS3, Nintendo…
News: New Patent Assigned to Microsoft
Kotaku reports that last week Microsoft was assigned U.S. Patent No. 7,559,834, filed in 2002, for “Dynamic join/exit of players during play of console-based video game.” This patent claims “A squad-based shooter…
Appeal Update: Fenner Investments Ltd. v. Microsoft et al.
Fenner Investments Ltd. v. Microsoft et al., the case regarding U.S. Patent No. 6,297,751 for a “low-voltage joystick port interface,” is being appealed to the Federal Circuit. On July 15, 2009,…
Case Dismissed: IQ Biometrix v. Perfect World Entertainment
IQ Biometrix, Inc. v. Perfect World Entertainment, Inc. et al. United States District Court for N.D. Illinois, Eastern Division Case No.: 1:09-cv-03180, Filed May 27, 2009 We previously wrote…
VIDEO GAME LAWSUITS
Updated: May 29, 2011 VIDEO GAME LAWSUITS To assist you in your research and review of the cases, this post will serve as a continuously updated index of the cases we’re tracking.…
Case Analysis: Sitrick v. DreamWorks
Sitrick v. DreamWorks, LLC et al. 516 F.3d 993 (Fed. Cir. 2008) This case, decided February 1, 2008, emphasizes the importance of enablement in determining the validity of patent claims, specifically…
Case Update: Fenner Investments v. Microsoft
Fenner Investments, Ltd. v. Microsoft et al. United States District Court for E.D. Tex. Filed 1/5/07, Decided 3/16/09 (Opinion issued 6/3/09) Background This case revolved around Fenner Investment’s U.S. Patent No. 6,297,751,…
Case Update: Fenner Investments v. Microsoft et al.
Fenner Investments Ltd. v. Microsoft et al. United States District Court for E.D. Tex. Filed 1/5/07 As you may recall this case consisted of a claim by Fenner that defendants had…
News: Worlds.com patent invalid???
Article One Partners is a company that offers rewards to people for finding prior art that can be used to try to invalidate patents, and Article One is willing to pay serious…
New Case: IQ Biometrix, Inc. v. Perfect World Entertainment, Inc. et al.
IQ Biometrix, Inc. v. Perfect World Entertainment, Inc. et al. United States District Court for N.D. Illinois, Eastern Division Case No.: 1:09-cv-03180, Filed May 27, 2009 IQ Biometrix, Inc. on May 27,…