goodbye PS2 (maybe)?

[Muscletang]

NOTE: I wasn't sure if this went in computers, politics, or if it could just go in off-topic for everybody to see. Anyway, mods please move it if it's in the wrong place.

Sony's appeal denied; fate of dualshock uncertain

Immersion, a company specializing in haptic technology, in 2003 sued both Sony and Microsoft for patent infringement, claiming both companies used Immersion's intellectual property (IP) in their console's controllers. Microsoft settled out of court (buying a share of Immersion in the process), but Sony fought on. Sony lost, and the judge ruled that Sony must suspend the sale of "Playstation consoles, Dualshock controllers," and a few dozen games, including Vice City, Final Fantasy X, and Metal Gear Solid 2. Sony filed for appeal, and has been allowed to sell all aforementioned products while the decision is under appeal.

The Wall Street Journal this morning reports that a federal judge rejected Sony's appeal and upheld the earlier decision (which also includes a $90.7 million payment by Sony to Immersion). Sony argued that Craig Thorner, a former paid consultant to Immersion, submitted testimony on Sony's behalf. However, US District Judge Claudia Wilken noted that Thorner was an "unreliable" witness, citing "strong evidence" that suggest Thorner's testimony was directly affected by the $150,000 Sony had paid him as "advance royalty" to license Thorner's patents in the future.

It seems very ridiculous that Sony would have to halt production on its flagship console, as well as most of the company's best-selling titles, but that may very well be the case here. Could this be a reason for Sony's (conceptual) "boomerang" PS3 controller? If the PlayStation 3 cannot utilize its force feedback technology from the past, how is this going to affect backwards compatibility? Chalk this up as another issue for Sony, alongside Cell processor issues, Blu-ray issues, delay rumors, and more than a few ad campaigns that have backfired.

It seems hard to believe it could be that bad. This next link shows that.

Source 2

So this all leaves us with the question, "What does Sony do now?" It's hard to believe that Sony would end up ceasing production of its PS2 or DualShock. The likely outcome is that Sony will be forced to pay the damages and new fees to become one of Immersion's many licensees. This could cost Sony potentially up to $30 million a year alone.

Seems better than before but I found this next one as well.

Source 3

Today the Wall Street Journal is reporting that Sony's appeal has failed, and as a result the original ruling, which involves stopping sales of the DualShock and DualShock 2 controller, a handful of games and $90.7 million in damages, must surely stand.

That can't be good either way. Also, the games and hardware in "question" from one ruling are...

Playstation consoles, Dualshock controllers, and those games found by the jury to infringe are... 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 the 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; and War of the Monsters

[thecackster]

wow...crazy shit...microsoft took the easier and smarter way out.

[blindside.AMG]

Serves 'em right for stealing shit. Atleast Microsoft saw their mistake and paid for it.

[skibum1111]

And if anyone remembers the whole napster fiasco, sony was the one who brought that about. Its about time they got their a** kicked in court.

[jon@af]

Oh fuck that. "blah blah blah they had it coming blah blah blah haha at sony for getting theirs." God forbid they created something that is similar to another product.

I'm understanding this right, right? They're suing because sony has rotating weights in controllers that correspond to actions in a game? Maybe I missed the point (which is possible). But if that is the case then they better fuckin sue Nintendo too.

[freakray]

Who cares, it's not like they improve your quality of life.

[XeVeNskyLiNE]

Yea thats bullshit. So ok, they're saying Sony stole the whole analog idea or whatever? N64 had it. Gamecube does. etc etc etc.

I'm not understanding how they can get sued for "stealing" their idea or design. It's like if I evented bananas and I sued someone for making a banana milkshake.

Peeps be doin anythin fo da scrilla dez days.

[AlbanyCartel]

i thought it was about the software that controls the wieghts at issue?
not the wieghts themselves.
as everyone stated, that method is used in practically every vibrating controller. it must be the software at issue.

[TexasF355F1]

More frivilous lawsuits abound.

[skibum1111]

Originally Posted by J_Swigz

Oh fuck that. "blah blah blah they had it coming blah blah blah haha at sony for getting theirs." God forbid they created something that is similar to another product.

I'm understanding this right, right? They're suing because sony has rotating weights in controllers that correspond to actions in a game? Maybe I missed the point (which is possible). But if that is the case then they better fuckin sue Nintendo too.

Sony got caught using someone else's software without getting permission for it, so I feel that they are getting what they deserve. As for the napster issue, most of the crap about it was people sharing "illegal" copies of songs which has been likened to taping them off the radio in the 80's...

[Rally Sport]

Damn thats bad..

[Damien]

I thought this was rather old because this was the whole reason the PS3 has new controllers.

just sayin...

idc for now because i have what i want so, w/e.

[MNcarfan]

I have my ps2 and controllers so I am not worried. If there is still someone out there who plans to buy a PS2, do it off ebay.

[CivRacer95]

I'm not a fan of the playstation so much, truth be told. A few of my cousins rip on me for even liking the Xbox over the PS2. Meh, it's just a video game console. I'm not in the buying contest. I just bought what I like and prefer. It's not like I'm going to contest and go buy every Xbox out there to prove who has the better sales...Anyway. That was completely off the subject, but I just wanted to say it.

I guess I have some material to make fun of them for atleast...Thanks Tangy.

[KustmAce]

Wonder if they sued Nintendo for using it in the 64, remember the RumblePak?

Props to Sony for not tucking tail.