Every game maker who has used 3D is being Sued.

[Raedon]

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/11...os_3d_lawsuit/

So.. I guess they waited until it was a Billion $$$ industry?

[EnemyZero]

what a joke

[Cmosfm]

I think i'm gonna act on my "Breathing" patent I filed for in the 1800's.

[Daria]

And 3D movies magically don't apply? o.O

[tholly]

now thats one of the dumbest lawsuits i have ever heard of

if they win i will be extremely saddened by our judicial system

[SoulBlazer]

Ah, don't worry, it will get tossed.

Either that or the companies will just agree to pay a licence fee.

On a related topic -- do companies still need to pay a licence fee to Magnavox for their patent on video game systems or is that finished with?

[Habeeb Hamusta]

Haha. You can file a lawsuit for anything nowadays. I think it would be hillarious if it actually worked and they got to sue all of those companies. Doubt it will though, too bad.

[Gapporin]

On a related topic -- do companies still need to pay a licence fee to Magnavox for their patent on video game systems or is that finished with?

If that's the case, then Ralph Baer will become the next Bill Gates.

[SegaAges]

sweet, does this mean that nobody has a patent on walking. i will make a deal with the breathing patent guy. i will allow you to walk under my patent, as long as i can breath. everybody else, no more walking. for every step you take, you owe me money.

[racecar]

now thats one of the dumbest lawsuits i have ever heard of

if they win i will be extremely saddened by our judicial system

me too !!

[rbudrick]

If that's the case, then Ralph Baer will become the next Bill Gates.

No he wouldn't. Generally, when inventors work for a compnay, they get paid a salary. Anything they invent belongs to the company, not the inventor. I guess some inventors may get bonuses for successful items based on whatever agreements with their employer, but not always the case.

-Rob

[MegaDrive20XX]

Ok that's more stupid then trying to get a patent on the word "french fries" ok? It ain't going to happen

[Iron Draggon]

Very interesting how Sony, Nintendo, & Microsoft apparently weren't named in the lawsuit. They're clearly only going after the companies that aren't very likely to slaughter them in the courts. It's just an attempt to blackmail all the blackmailers for a change, so in a way I kinda hope they win, but they won't.

[Gamemaster_ca_2003]

Hum It seems that they are not going after Sony, Nintendo or Microsoft wonder why.

[tholly]

Ok that's more stupid then trying to get a patent on the word "french fries" ok? It ain't going to happen

good point....but i would have to assume that at the time this was set up back in the '80s 2D / 3D wasn't a very big thing and there may have been some relevance in getting a patient....now it is just an everyday very common term, so i dont know how effective this law suit will be

[NintendoMan]

what a joke

Yeah, what a fucking joke!

[Querjek]

I think i'm gonna act on my "Breathing" patent I filed for in the 1800's.

Pffft, that's nothing compared to my patent on life

[Raven1280]

im going to get a patent on the fork.

[GaijinPunch]

You guys are all screwed, as I invented (and patented) the question mark!
This is a joke, considering 3D images were displayed on a 2D surface (a screen) long before 1987 -- they can't patent it.

[Ed Oscuro]

GG @ Prior Art