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126 Comments
- RockTheWall, on 10/12/2007, -15/+59One word: Karma.
Sony has had this coming to them for a long time. You cannot abuse consumers and competitors for this long, even in other areas, and get away with it. Someone will call you on it, and it just so happens that the HD-DVD camp, Immersion, and Eliot Spitzer are all calling them on it at once. Good for them, companies like Sony that abuse their laissez-faire priveleges have to be brought down. - totalnet, on 10/12/2007, -4/+37To be clear, they will have to stop selling PS2 with Dual Shock controller.
- DarkeSword, on 10/12/2007, -1/+28Why is this linking to a virtual pet forum post, rather than the actual article itself?
http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/03/13/sony_dual_shock_patent - Flankk, on 10/12/2007, -10/+36No more Dual Shock != No more PS2
Reported as inaccurate. - c0uchm0nster, on 10/12/2007, -8/+24"Yeah, just like how Microsoft used the same technology in their controllers. The only difference is they keeled over and shelled out the cash. And from what I've seen of the patent, not only was it wrongfully issued, but the technology they're trying to claim belongs to them was in existence for quite some time."
Damn cyrix, I don't usually comment/care about console news, but I couldn't resist this time.
Your first sentence says that Sony is getting an unfair wrap because MS is doing the same thing and isn't getting in trouble. Then your second sentence says "the only difference is microsoft bought what they used and didn't steal it". That's kind of the whole point of the lawsuit... notice the word "law" in lawsuit...
As for the rest: what do you mean "what I've seen of the patent" - it's not exactly the length of a novel. And could you elaborate on "wrongfully issued"? If the "was in existence for a long time" is your explanation - apparently you don't know jack ***** about patent law. Maybe you've heard one or two tidbits in the news about people mapping and patenting parts of the human genome? You don't think they're the creators of the human genome do you? lol.
But I guess you'll call me a fanboy too, regardless of the fact that the last console I owned was an NES. - MxxCon, on 10/12/2007, -7/+21WHY ARE YOU DIGGING THIS?
THIS STORY WAS REPORTED ON "21:16 - 13 March 2006"
"this evening" was 6 DAYS AGO.
WE ALL ALREADY KNOW THE RESULT OF THAT CASE! - Skywise, on 10/12/2007, -16/+29uh-huh and Google hired a 15 year old kid... I'll wait for the official news, k. thx
- SixSider, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,125080,00.asp
Clearer article. - Larke2000, on 10/12/2007, -9/+20absolutely right. they've made their bed, now let them lie in it. i have no sympathy.
- Urusai, on 10/12/2007, -5/+16No more Sony hand vibrator? At least we still have the Hello Kitty vibrator!
- luke--, on 10/12/2007, -6/+16this cannot be true.....
Wow, upon reading the article. Nintendo apprently owns a part of Immersion. So nintendo has access to the dual shock patents....this is really bizzare. - Lumiras, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10This is inaccurate, this is the definition of inaccurate. This case only deals with the method of vibration the Dual Shock controler (and Microsoft's Xbox controler) uses . In no way does this effect the console itself in any way. There was a ruling about this about a year ago, and it went nowhere. I don't think this time will be any different.
Plain and simple, this will not stop Sony from selling the Playstation 2, nor will it change the release date of the Playstation 3 - cliche_kitty, on 10/12/2007, -5/+14It will take a while to repackage and sell the PS2 without a controller...
- SixSider, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8Mmmm. The source story cited was from March 13th. Following up more, Sont has filed another appeal.
- krackle, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7Correct me if I'm wrong as this is an older memory, but I thought that MS bought a portion of Immersion after they got sued so they would not be on the receiving end of this kind of BS and so they could be on the giving end to Nintendo and Sony.
- DisposableRob, on 10/12/2007, -3/+10"Nintendo apprently owns a part of Immersion."
I wonder where they got that info. I've never heard of it and a search brings up no indication that this is true. - tangledweb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7I am glad that I am not the only one who thinks somebody might have been able to find more authoratiative source than "Virtual Pet List". Come on people don't dig interesting stories from crap sources. Find a better source and put that up instead before the crap version makes the front page.
- LocDawg, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7... in other news patent suits run AMOK like a band of rabid wolverines.
- ModernTenshi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6To anyone saying, "just because they can't sell the Dual Shock controller anymore doesn't mean they're going under," think about this . . . .
What other first-party controller does Sony have to package with PS2? I'm sure this could also mean controllers made by third-party companies as well.
In addition, this patent also envelopes the software needed to use the hardware, so Immersion can also force any games that use the hardware on Sony's systems to be pulled from store shelves. We're talking about a potential total PlayStation blackout here people.
Personally, I don't see them doing that to Sony. What I do see them doing, however, is charging them significantly more than what they charge Microsoft and Nintendo as far as royalty and usage fees go. Simple reason: PlayStation is the biggest selling system on the planet, and by getting rid of it and potentially causing the downfall of the company that makes it, it in turn could affect profit margins at Immersion as well. - SixSider, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6No. This was judgement on Sony's request for a dismissal. They are still appealing.
- geminitojanus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6You know, instead of bickering over who owns part of Immersion, you could always go to their website and see what partners they have...
http://www.immersion.com/corporate/partners/
Apple, Microsoft, Belkin and Logitech are all listed, no Sony or Nintendo. - DoubtfulSalmon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6blog spam, no digg, spam++
- BGFeltenink, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9That can be a death kneel for many companies. It isn't like they have barrels of money stored away. Usually most of that is tied up into investments, projects, and an otherwise steady stream of income. Usually doesn't just sit in a bank because if something goes wrong with the bank most of it would be uninsured.
- Jocose, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Hmm I wonder if they will restructure so that they can sell a package minus the dual shock... Then again that could give way to a slew of other problems. Looks like they are in some trouble but I doubt it's life threatening. Just sucks to be Sony right now.
- antipro, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Sony does sell more than just video game consoles though. I believe they just past Samsung as the number 1 seller of LCD HDTVs. So theyll make money through other avenues.
Who doesnt own a PS2 by now and still wants one though? - fibber, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4387045.stm
- SimonX314, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8Microsoft's controllers also infringe on the patent, like all other similar controllers. M$ was smart and settled out of court.
- Elranzer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4"the dualshock were awesome, but they had to change it"
Nintendo is glad you like it, since they're the ones who designed it when it was first called the SNES controller. - NeoTechni, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5No they didn't invent it. Hence why they had to buy part of immersion
- serra, on 10/12/2007, -4/+8This is a bit misleading...
- TrainwreckX, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Cheers to Nintendo for being the only company smart enough to make their own *****. Enjoy the revolution, it's going to be sooooo sweet.
- SimonX314, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Sony was allowed to keep selling the dual shock pending the appeal. If they lost the appeal then.... well Sony's lawyers will probably find another way around it. But still bad news for Sony.
- Elranzer, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5If Nintendo owns a part of Immersion (which would make sense since their Star Fox 64 was the first video game with a rumble feature), this would be an interesting sort of revenge to Sony, since Sony blatently ripped off their controller design from the SNES' controller.
- Elranzer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"If Sony sells no units, Immersion gets nothing."
No, Immersion still gets "damages" paid to them for past infringements. - ZachPruckowski, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6Repackaging also means lots of recalls of unsold units from Wal-Marts and Targets world-wide
- ntrsfrml, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4ahahhaha, they had this coming.. serves you right for screwing w/ others!
- SirVanderhoot, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Any one know exactly what the suit is over? I'm pretty sure that it's about the rumble feature, so would that mean that they could sell a non-vibrating dual shock?
- MOGua, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6"U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken last week denied Sony's effort to dismiss the entire case, when she ruled that Sony had paid an "unreliable" witness $150,000 to give testimony that he had invented the technology first."
I didn't know SONY was that shady... - djhomeboy, on 10/12/2007, -4/+7If you google it you will find its TRUE! There are many stories. Poor Sony, guess they should have paid like M$ did.
- superrcat, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4"The electronics maker was ordered to pay approximately US$91 million to Immersion and cease the sale of the controllers as well as PlayStation systems and games that use its "force feedback" feature."
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/gaming/49360.html
Yeah, they appealed but it was turned down because Sony paid a witness. - LotharZogg, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6Time to put my PS2 on Ebay. Awww yeah.
- metalstorm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I have seen this arguement many times over the last year and nothing ever comes from it.
- evildeadxsp, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4yeah i felt stupid reading at a "virtual pets" site too, but the post actually was really good, he included links to other information about Sony and its patent problems
- clevershark, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3They can always license the patent from Immersion... at a hefty premium. Which reflects pretty much what I'd charge Sony if I were head of Immersion.
- Bootes, on 10/12/2007, -8/+11Copyright system sucks, patent system sucks, current presidency sucks. We need to fix our government.
- sjk8990, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Rumor has it that there will be legitimate news on this site some day. Until Sony officially says something, it's just hearsay.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Um, don't pretty much all games have a setting where you can turn off the vibrating function? Its certainly there in the console options isn't it?
- davidv, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5So you know sony said last week during their playstation announcements that the price of the ps2 would not see a price drop anytime soon
http://ps2.ign.com/articles/696/696049p1.html - search, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5INACCURATE STORY??? Seems like it.
- jer2eydevil88, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6I have had such bad luck with Sony equipment, one such occassion was when my PS2 broke and they wanted $150 to fix it out of warranty. I put it in a brown bag and threw it out, in retrospect I could've gotten something for it on eBay but hell I was so angry.
Meanwhile my N64 and XBOX are great and still plugging away. I for one won't miss Sony if they do collapse on themselves! Rootkits and ***** go a long way toward killing your cunsumer base.
This doesn't look like a professional story, nor does it have any real evidence; it just makes me happy to see Sony forecasted to die. -
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