Is this a joke?/Sony PS2 Controllers are Illegal!

[Hawkeye]

http://slashdot.org/

No, I dont visit this site, it was directed to me by nik0tine who does.

jk

But like it says, is this a joke or what? Have you guys heard anything about this?

[Black Mage]

Yes, it's real. There was a thread about this some time back, before the verdict was reached.

Originally, both Microsoft and Sony were being sued, though Microsoft settled, and ended up owning a large portion of the company sueing them, if I recall.

I guess Sony opted to fight it, and there we have the result.

The point was originally mentioned in the other thread concerning Nintendo. You should look that thread up; certainly a good read.

[Zell's Fists of Fury]

So if they can't sell them anymore... what are they going to do?

[Endless]

They appealed the decision, which prevents the suspension while the appeal is being heard.

See this article.

[Black Mage]

And here:

"Today in Oakland, California, Sony lost a patent infringement court battle with Immersion Corp pertaining to Sony's use of Dual Shock and Dual Shock 2 controllers in its PlayStation and PlayStation 2 consoles. Sony has been ordered to pay Immersion $90.7 million in damages and is also expected to stop selling the patent infringing PlayStation and PlayStation 2 systems, as well as over forty games that infringe on Immersion's patent.

The case revolves around US patents 6,275,213 and 6,424,333 which cover "haptic feedback," which entails the use of computer-controlled vibrating motors to provide tactile feedback to the user of a program.

Following the ruling, Sony was granted a temporary stay of injunction while the case pends appeal that will subsequently allow Sony to sell the offending consoles and games until the appeal is resolved. A full listing of the titles affected, with RPGs bolded, is as follows:

# A Bug's Life
# Amplitude
# Ape Escape
# Atlantis: The Lost Empire
# Bloody Roar 2
# Cool Boarders 3
# Cool Boarders 4
# Cool Boarders 2001
# Crash Bash
# Crash Team Racing
# Drakan: The Ancients' Gate
# Emperor's New Groove
# Extermination
# FantaVision
# Final Fantasy X
# Formula One 2001
# The Getaway
# Gran Turismo
# Gran Turismo 2
# Gran Turismo 3
# Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
# Grand Theft Auto 3
# Grind Session
# ICO
# Jak & Daxter
# Kinetica
# Kingdom Hearts
# Legend of Dragoon
# The Mark of Kri
# Medal of Honor Frontline
# Medievil 2
# Metal Gear Solid 2
# Monster's, Inc.
# Sly Cooper and the Thievius Racoonus
# SOCOM Navy Seals
# Speed Punks
# Spyro: Ripto's Rage
# Spyro: Year of the Dragon
# Stuart Little 2
# Syphon Filter 2
# Syphon Filter 3
# Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
# Twisted Metal: Black
# Twisted Metal 4
# Twisted Metal: Small Brawl
# Treasure Planet
# War of the Monsters.

In early 2002, Immersion filed suit against both Sony and Microsoft for patent infringement, that resulted in Microsoft settling out of court in mid-2003 for the sum of $26 million to license the technology and buying a portion of Immersion in the process. RPGamer will bring you the latest when circumstances surrounding this case evolve."

Source

[Daggers64]

As of now, Sony is not allowed to sell the PS2 Controllers any more, if they contain the rumble feature!!!

You can thank Microsoft and Immersion corp for this.
You see, back when Rumble controllers where being put into the controllers for Xbox and PS2, Immersion found out they're idea/copywrite was stolen, and they weren't getting payed for it... sooo they sued microsoft... and i guess they lost, but then microsoft bought (a percent of) Immersion corp, and then took up the lawsuit against Sony!

Well anyway, Sony just lost the lawsuit... so now they must stop selling the controllers, or take out the rumble feature... and they have to pay $90.7 million in damages to Immersion Corp. for patent infringement!

And since Microsoft owns Immersion, they can tell Sony that they can't have rumble feature anymore... which is going to be a big blow to Sony.

http://www.joystiq.com/entry/1234000343027206/
http://www.japantoday.com/e/?content...at=4&id=332037
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2005/01...s_6116423.html

I feel sorry for Sony... then again, I feel they deserved it, if they stole Immersion's ideas... lol @_@ although, if microsoft also stole it, i donno how to feel. XD

[Tidus Andronicus]

Wow, Thats interesting... I never would have expected this. o.o

I like the PS2... but wow. LOL

Smart job on Microsoft's part. Now they have a huge advantage over Sony, unless of course Sony just designs a new way to rumble.lol

eh... Good thing I already have the controller!

Hmmm does this effect Nintendo at all? Besides give them more of an advantage. XD

[Old Manus]

Curse you, Microsoft! CURSE YOU!

[Erdrick Holmes]

HAH! Take THAT!

[edczxcvbnm]

Yeah. Sony is full of morons. Microsoft could do that but it really would not matter. Sony just needs to come up with a new way to make the controller vibrate. I forget how Nintendo does it but I think they do it differently and own a copyright on that method thus are exempt from this law suit.

[Tidus Andronicus]

Everything Microsoft touches becomes their's... by ways of the legal system. XD

[Necronopticous]

You've got to be kidding me...

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

Threads merged.

[Daggers64]

Maybe this will force Sony to be more creative. XD

I'm sure it will completely push back the PS3, cause they need to redesign a few things now. lol And I think they'd have to update the Developement Kits, which they've given to game companies... now they have to give them a new version once they design the new rumble... if they redesign it anyway.

[XxSephirothxX]

I have no real love for Sony or Microsoft as companies...

So, go Nintendo!