Nintendo has scored two key victories today in the fight against piracy and patent trolls. Nintendo of America announced a patent victory in California against Technology Properties Limited LLC and a few other firms, marking the second victory against the same company for the Nintendo. These patent holding companies made claims against the Nintendo 3DS and DSi, specifically the cameras used in those devices.
The ruling clears both the Nintendo 3DS and the Wii U from any supposed patent infringement claims, which Nintendo of America’s Director of Litigation and Compliance Ajay Singh, seemed particularly pleased about. Here’s what he had to say:
We are very pleased with this decision, which again confirmed that Nintendo’s products do not infringe. It also confirms that Nintendo continues to develop unique and innovative products while respecting the intellectual property rights of others. Nintendo will defend its products and its innovations, even if it must do so multiple times in different places and over many years.
Nintendo of Europe also has cause to celebrate, as an Italian court upheld that Nintendo’s copyright enforcement techniques are well within Italian law and that selling of R4 mod chips or custom carts is still illegal.
It is unlawful to import and sell circumvention devices under Italian law and sellers could face criminal sentences and fines as well as hefty damages. Nintendo’s advice to its fans is “don’t fund piracy by purchasing these devices and stay out of the business of selling them”.
Congrats to Nintendo on both occasions, but we have a feeling this won’t be the last of the patent litigation cases that we see, especially with a new console unveil around the corner.
