Report, edit, etc...Posted by olaboy- on 2006-03-20 at 16:47:47
Source: http://www.mlgpro.com/forum/showthread.php?t=54225
-----
http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/03...l_shock_patent
Reports are trickling through this evening that Sony has indeed lost its patent case against Immersion technologies and will be forced to halt sales of its PS2 console.
Immersion last year sued Sony for infringing on its patents. Immersion claims that it owns the technology that powers the rumble in Sony's Dual Shock controllers. It also sued Microsoft for its rumble features in the Xbox, but the boys from Redmond settled out of court.
Sony fought on, and lost a case last year. However, it's been allowed to continue selling the PS2 pending appeal. If the latest reports are verified, it's lost that appeal today.
This means that Sony not only has to pony up and awful lot of cash to Immersion Technologies, but it has to stop infringing on the patent - that means stop selling kit which includes Dual Shock technology, and that means pulling the PS2 off the shelf.
Commentators are wondering if this case is the reason for the PS3 controller redesign that we've seen - it's possible the horrendous boomerang monstrosity doesn't infringe on patents.
Interestingly, Immersion is owned in part by Nintendo. The next-generation battle just took another twist...
Love the Dual Shock? Can't believe Sony will pull PS2 from the shelves? What exactly is Nintendo's game here, letting Microsoft settle and taking Sony to the cleaners? Let us know your speculation over in the forums, and we'll try to back up the reports we're seeing.
http://news.com.com/Sony+loses+round...3-6049177.html
(more info)
What does this all mean?
Sony's playstation has been virtually keeping the entire company above water. They don't have the revenue coming in to deal with such a loss. Sony isn't poor by any means (Nintendo is the smallest of the 3 giants, holding about $12 billion), but not only are they losing money on every year, not only do they have OTHER legal problems to deal with*
* http://www.businessweek.com/technolo...128_573560.htm
They have been doing better than they have been lately, but read this article carefully:
http://www.businessweek.com/technolo...109_265301.htm
-blu-ray is a crucial part of reviving sony, and is expected to lose $86 million by March 31rst
-blu-ray is also a crucial part of the ps3, another crucial part of reviving sony
They have already had to push back the PS3 launch to November (http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/), so things aren't going well for them. Why?
TOKYO (Nikkei)--Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. will delay the release of its PlayStation 3 next-generation video game console until early November because the copy protection technology for the Blu-ray Disc has not been finalized, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun learned Tuesday.
These lawsuits have been going on for years. Nintendo and Microsoft have both paid, settled, and signed contracts. Sony has just told Immersion, the company with the patent, "screw you".
Immersions standard rate is 5%, sony currently paying 1.37% due to a judge's decision, and due to the way the court battles have gone (Sony has lost everything in every aspect so far), Immersion could possibly double or even triple what they normally charge and get away with it.
Not only will sony have to pay, Immersion chooses whether or not the PS2, and any periphials using the technology (including games) could be released. There would have to be a worldwide recall, repackaging, and reshipping of all of the ps2 consoles.
It could end up costing Sony around $1 billion, at a time that they are trying very hard to to introduce both blu-ray and playstation 3, and right in time to compete with nintendo's revolution.
If playstation 3 IS going to be taking 50% losses as rumored, that will be a HUGE hit to sony. If they don't allow those losses, they would have to sell their system for a good $700 at the least. Compared to revolution's proposed $199-$249? That's a pretty steep buy.
-----
http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2006/03...l_shock_patent
Reports are trickling through this evening that Sony has indeed lost its patent case against Immersion technologies and will be forced to halt sales of its PS2 console.
Immersion last year sued Sony for infringing on its patents. Immersion claims that it owns the technology that powers the rumble in Sony's Dual Shock controllers. It also sued Microsoft for its rumble features in the Xbox, but the boys from Redmond settled out of court.
Sony fought on, and lost a case last year. However, it's been allowed to continue selling the PS2 pending appeal. If the latest reports are verified, it's lost that appeal today.
This means that Sony not only has to pony up and awful lot of cash to Immersion Technologies, but it has to stop infringing on the patent - that means stop selling kit which includes Dual Shock technology, and that means pulling the PS2 off the shelf.
Commentators are wondering if this case is the reason for the PS3 controller redesign that we've seen - it's possible the horrendous boomerang monstrosity doesn't infringe on patents.
Interestingly, Immersion is owned in part by Nintendo. The next-generation battle just took another twist...
Love the Dual Shock? Can't believe Sony will pull PS2 from the shelves? What exactly is Nintendo's game here, letting Microsoft settle and taking Sony to the cleaners? Let us know your speculation over in the forums, and we'll try to back up the reports we're seeing.
http://news.com.com/Sony+loses+round...3-6049177.html
(more info)
What does this all mean?
Sony's playstation has been virtually keeping the entire company above water. They don't have the revenue coming in to deal with such a loss. Sony isn't poor by any means (Nintendo is the smallest of the 3 giants, holding about $12 billion), but not only are they losing money on every year, not only do they have OTHER legal problems to deal with*
* http://www.businessweek.com/technolo...128_573560.htm
They have been doing better than they have been lately, but read this article carefully:
http://www.businessweek.com/technolo...109_265301.htm
-blu-ray is a crucial part of reviving sony, and is expected to lose $86 million by March 31rst
-blu-ray is also a crucial part of the ps3, another crucial part of reviving sony
They have already had to push back the PS3 launch to November (http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/), so things aren't going well for them. Why?
TOKYO (Nikkei)--Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. will delay the release of its PlayStation 3 next-generation video game console until early November because the copy protection technology for the Blu-ray Disc has not been finalized, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun learned Tuesday.
These lawsuits have been going on for years. Nintendo and Microsoft have both paid, settled, and signed contracts. Sony has just told Immersion, the company with the patent, "screw you".
Immersions standard rate is 5%, sony currently paying 1.37% due to a judge's decision, and due to the way the court battles have gone (Sony has lost everything in every aspect so far), Immersion could possibly double or even triple what they normally charge and get away with it.
Not only will sony have to pay, Immersion chooses whether or not the PS2, and any periphials using the technology (including games) could be released. There would have to be a worldwide recall, repackaging, and reshipping of all of the ps2 consoles.
It could end up costing Sony around $1 billion, at a time that they are trying very hard to to introduce both blu-ray and playstation 3, and right in time to compete with nintendo's revolution.
If playstation 3 IS going to be taking 50% losses as rumored, that will be a HUGE hit to sony. If they don't allow those losses, they would have to sell their system for a good $700 at the least. Compared to revolution's proposed $199-$249? That's a pretty steep buy.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Deathawk on 2006-03-20 at 16:54:46
Definately not a good case of events for Sony.
All three of the links you posted are 404 not found errors, except for the source, but you have to log in on that one, I think.
"Screw you"
Those are some bold words
All three of the links you posted are 404 not found errors, except for the source, but you have to log in on that one, I think.
"Screw you"
Those are some bold words
Report, edit, etc...Posted by TheEvilBeaVer on 2006-03-20 at 16:55:14
Just like in SC and WC3 : Bill Gates will rule all life at the end...
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Realize on 2006-03-20 at 17:10:13
How come Immersion didn't sue them earlier? I think that Nintendo's getting desperate.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Caboose on 2006-03-20 at 17:14:35
OMG! I don't really care! o.o\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ Well if we have to send our Ps2s back, what if we didn't return them? What would happen? And would we get our money back? Because I'm going to use that to buy a Revolution! ={D
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Cloud on 2006-03-20 at 17:19:37
I'll sue the people that sued Sony if they try and take my PS2. 
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Kyuubi. on 2006-03-20 at 19:20:11
yea the links won't work except for the last one...if they do that it'll be a huge upset over the gaming world. but we will see immersions as a greedy money hogging company if they do that by taking control of the console sales and selling them.
people wouldn't buy them for that much...i wouldn't buy it though if it costed above $500...
people would get upset whoever owns the ps2 consoles and whose planning to get one...and people will get upset over the news about the ps3...
what about the sales of their psp?
people wouldn't buy them for that much...i wouldn't buy it though if it costed above $500...
people would get upset whoever owns the ps2 consoles and whose planning to get one...and people will get upset over the news about the ps3...
what about the sales of their psp?
Report, edit, etc...Posted by Raindodger on 2006-03-20 at 19:32:17
I shall treasure my Dual Shock Controller forever. 
Report, edit, etc...Posted by n2o-SiMpSoNs on 2006-03-20 at 19:42:06
They said nothing about taking already botton ps2 >.< only the ones that havent been sold. Also, Sony better pick it up because i like their TVs >.< and computers, and i want to go over to my friends house to play ps3 If they even get one depending on the cost.
If they even get one depending on the cost.Report, edit, etc...Posted by Golden-Fist on 2006-03-21 at 20:53:43
Nintendo wasn't sued by Immersion the controller method they used wasn't related to the method Microsoft and Sony used. Also the "fact" that the Playstation is keeping the company "A float" is false. Sony sells vcrs, tvs, dvds, cameras, dvds themselves, speakers, moniters, phones, and other things. Playstation just makes the MOST revenue, since Video Games are more popular then VCRs. And still, Sony is the only company that actaully gained any money in the console race this year. It'll take until the Ps3 launch until they lose half as much that Microsoft lost in the 5 years they had. It's pretty much proven that this new controller from Sony was because of the case, they annouced it a few months after the case started up, doesn't that seem a bit odd? Though it doesn't really affect much. Sony won't have to pay them 10 billion dollars or something. They can survive the lawsuit, it just means if you were planning to buy a Ps2 8 months prior to Ps3, then you can't. Oh no.
Report, edit, etc...Posted by (DI)Yulla on 2006-03-21 at 22:16:17
Kinda sucks for Sony. They can't sell PS2 anymore. I was actually gonna buy it in a recent future. But, with the extreme high coverage price for PS3, now I am not even sure if I should buy it for PSU's sake. Rev looks real nice now.