Sony Loses Dual Shock Patent Case
Posted by Vampiro V. Empire
Quoting http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/03/13/sony_dual_shock_patent/: Reports are trickling through this evening that Sony has indeed lost its patent case against Immersion technologies and will be forced to halt sales of its PS2 console.
Immersion last year sued Sony for infringing on its patents. Immersion claims that it owns the technology that powers the rumble in Sony's Dual Shock controllers. It also sued Microsoft for its rumble features in the Xbox, but the boys from Redmond settled out of court.
Sony fought on, and lost a case last year. However, it's been allowed to continue selling the PS2 pending appeal. If the latest reports are verified, it's lost that appeal today.
This means that Sony not only has to pony up and awful lot of cash to Immersion Technologies, but it has to stop infringing on the patent - that means stop selling kit which includes Dual Shock technology, and that means pulling the PS2 off the shelf.
Commentators are wondering if this case is the reason for the PS3 controller redesign that we've seen - it's possible the horrendous boomerang monstrosity doesn't infringe on patents.
Interestingly, Immersion is owned in part by Nintendo. The next-generation battle just took another twist...
Love the Dual Shock? Can't believe Sony will pull PS2 from the shelves? What exactly is Nintendo's game here, letting Microsoft settle and taking Sony to the cleaners? Let us know your speculation over in the forums, and we'll try to back up the reports we're seeing.
Oops.
Posted by AntHuh, funny. Although I'm sure Sony will find a way to still be able to make the PS2...things are going to get interesting.
Posted by sniperThe amount they have to pay must be huge... how many millions of dual shocks do you think have been sold by now?
Posted by Vampiro V. Empire
Quoted post: The amount they have to pay must be huge... how many millions of dual shocks do you think have been sold by now?
We know there's over 100 million PS2s out there, then there's however many PS1 controllers, and then all of the extra controllers people have bought. So yeah, I have a feeling they're just going to develop new technology, rather than pay through the nose for the Dual Shock.
Posted by WILLETH FOR MONTHSThey'll probably just make the motors that power the rumble go the other way, or something. It's not a huge deal.
Posted by Demonbladeits not an amazing technology anymore anyways...i hardly even notice it anymore.
Posted by Vampnagel P. WingpireIt's sad, really. But I'm sure Sony will find some way around it.