Nintendo and Microsoft in Suit Over Controller Patents

Via Kotaku, an article at the Inquirer discussing a patent suit brought against Microsoft and Nintendo over controller technologies. Anascape Ltd, a Texas firm, claims the two companies have infringed on over a dozen of its held patents. From the article: "Anascape alleges 6,222,525 'Image Controller with Sheet Connected Sensors' was also breached, as well as 6,343, 991 'Game Control with Analog Pressure Sensor' and 6,344,791 'Variable Sensor with Tactile Feedback'. As well as 6,347,997 'Analog Controls Housed with Electronic Displays', 6,351,205 'Variable Conductance Sensor' (a different one) and 6,400, 303 'Remote Controller with Analog Pressure Sensor' (a different one)."

Patent with no product using it?

[Yvan256]

Aren't patents supposed to be allowed only if the company actually has a product on the market using the patented feature?

Re:Patent trolls?

[sqlrob]

So go back to requiring a prototype

Re:Patent trolls?

[KDR_11k]

Software algorithms are just mathematics, I don't think those were ever patentable. After all maths were around when the patent system was set up so it would have a provision for maths already if that was intended to be patentable.

Injunction probable

[DeadCatX2]

I thought something was funny when I read about the suit being filed in East Texas.

According to techdirt [techdirt.com], there's a federal judge in Marshall, Texas (a district in East Texas) who almost universally grants injunctions against patent infringers. Said judge is a favorite of patent trolls.

According to this pdf [theinquirer.net], the case is filed in...gasp...Marshall, TX.