Nintendo Loses Patent Case to Sony
Nintendo's tailspin continues. After reports of poor sales in Japan against rival Sony, it seems the Federal Jury wanted to just put the final blow to Nintendo this week. Nintendo were found guilty this morning after a patent infringement was taken to court after longtime Sony employee and inventor Seijiro Tomita claimed $30.2 million in compensatory damages over alledged claims that Nintendo stole the 3D technology used on their handheld system.
Tomita's legal representative, Joe Diamant told the juror's he had met with seven Nintendo officials in early 2003, and had presented them with the new technology. Four of the officials would go on to assist the creation of the Nintendo3DS.
Nintendo's attorney Scott Lindvall argued that the suit was without real reason or merit, claiming the Nintendo 3DS did not use any aspects of Tomita's invention nor his patent. He went into details explaining to the jury, that the meeting with Nintnedo was one of the many with merchants trying to sell Nintendo on 3D technology.
This is not the only time Tomita has tried to take this case to court. Tomita sued Nintendo in 2011 claiming he was entitled $9.80 of every 3DS sold. As of December 31, 2012 Nintendo has sold 29.4 Million units meaning Tomita was believed to be owed $292.5 Million.
Nintendo responded to the statement on Kotaku;
"A jury awarded $30.2 million in damages to Tomita Technologies in a patent infringement lawsuit brought by Tomita against Nintendo," a line from the statement reads. "The Tomita patent did not relate to the 3D games playable on the Nintendo 3DS. The trial was held in U.S. District Court in New York before Judge Jed Rakoff."
"Nintendo is confident that the result will be set aside. The jury's verdict will not impact Nintendo's continued sales in the United States of its highly acclaimed line of video game hardware, software and accessories, including the Nintendo 3DS," it goes on. "Nintendo has a long history of developing innovative products while respecting the intellectual property rights of others."
Source: http://www.dashhacks.com/ps3/ps3-news/time-to-pay-the-piper-nintendo-loses-patent-case-to-sony-inventor.html
