PS3_Master
03-13-2006, 09:23 PM
http://www.ps3court.com/images/dualshock.jpgA federal judge dismissed Sony’s court appeal today against Immersion Corporation’s lawsuit over DualShock Technology, which makes controllers vibrate.
The technology, known as Haptic Feedback shakes controllers frequently used by games on both gaming consoles and computer games. Sony however is not the only company faced with lawsuits by Immersion Cooperation. Redman Washington based Microsoft also faced legal action, however settled out of court by signing a licensing deal.
Patents for the technology were filed by Immersion Corporation in 1995, and were granted in 2002. The lawsuits were filed soon after against both Sony and Microsoft. In September 2004, Sony lost its defense case and was ordered by a US jury to pay close to $81 Million in damages. Sony appealed the courts decision and has yet again lost in court. As a result, Sony was ordered to pay an additional $10 Million for infringing upon Immersion Corporation’s patents.
In Sony’s appeal, they claimed Immersion had held back evidence and as a result asked the original judgment in favor of Immersion be thrown out. Sony argued Craig Thorner who consulted for Immersion failed to properly disclose all information when applying for the Haptic Feedback patent causing a weaknesses in Immersions claim to the technologies patent.
Immersion is now pursuing Sony again due to a $150,000 payment to Thorner, from Sony for royalties on another patent. Immersion claims Sony did this in an attempt to influence his testimony in court.
Another appeal is expected from Sony later in the year. Should Sony loose this third Appeal, they forgo any chance of further attempts on claiming they have the right to use the technology. If this is the case, Sony will be required to pay the damages, as well as a $30 Million a year licensing for or discontinue a multitude of products
Author: PS3_Master
The technology, known as Haptic Feedback shakes controllers frequently used by games on both gaming consoles and computer games. Sony however is not the only company faced with lawsuits by Immersion Cooperation. Redman Washington based Microsoft also faced legal action, however settled out of court by signing a licensing deal.
Patents for the technology were filed by Immersion Corporation in 1995, and were granted in 2002. The lawsuits were filed soon after against both Sony and Microsoft. In September 2004, Sony lost its defense case and was ordered by a US jury to pay close to $81 Million in damages. Sony appealed the courts decision and has yet again lost in court. As a result, Sony was ordered to pay an additional $10 Million for infringing upon Immersion Corporation’s patents.
In Sony’s appeal, they claimed Immersion had held back evidence and as a result asked the original judgment in favor of Immersion be thrown out. Sony argued Craig Thorner who consulted for Immersion failed to properly disclose all information when applying for the Haptic Feedback patent causing a weaknesses in Immersions claim to the technologies patent.
Immersion is now pursuing Sony again due to a $150,000 payment to Thorner, from Sony for royalties on another patent. Immersion claims Sony did this in an attempt to influence his testimony in court.
Another appeal is expected from Sony later in the year. Should Sony loose this third Appeal, they forgo any chance of further attempts on claiming they have the right to use the technology. If this is the case, Sony will be required to pay the damages, as well as a $30 Million a year licensing for or discontinue a multitude of products
Author: PS3_Master