WOW, what do you say now Microsoft?

[TheGrandMom]

http://xbox360.qj.net/Nintendo-Paten...g/49/aid/55869

According to Webpronews a recently approved patent for Nintendo could lead to lawsuits against other game console manufacturers. The patent was originally filed in 2000 and is for a videogame instant messaging system. The patent covers a chat system that involves a remotely stored buddy list, allows for multiple statuses, and could broadcast information about gaming activities. It would also display alerts when new e-mail is received, enable the transmission of player preferences, and allow for communication through either voice or text messages.

Two aging products, the Nintendo64 and the Game Boy Color, are mentioned in the patent, but there is speculation that the system could be implemented in the upcoming Wii. It may also serve as a bartering chip against software giant Microsoft. It looks as though Microsoft's Xbox Live system may infringe upon Nintendo's new patent.

If so, Nintendo could try to reach a cross-licensing deal that would allow it to delve into areas covered by some of Microsoft's patents. Sony is another potential target if Nintendo tries to pursue the matter. It's possible that nothing will come of this. It's also possible that we'll see a voice chat-enabled Wii, and a huge court battle between Nintendo and Microsoft. Of course, there are a few likelihoods that fall between those potential outcomes.

If anyone does cause a dispute out of this it would be very weird for Microsoft as being a member of Xbox Live since before it first came out I know that the messaging system that Microsoft has in place is one of the best things the Xbox and the 360 has going for it and I couldn't imagine Xbox Live without it. Hopefully all the online gaming systems will have their own "Xbox Live" and be just as great. Go ahead and give us your thoughts about these rumors by commenting after the jump.

[Jei]

Re: WOW, what do you say now Microsoft?

? I don't quite understand. If Wii implement chat system why will they have to fight microsoft? Because MS license the right to chat via console?

[Mhurron]

Re: WOW, what do you say now Microsoft?

? I don't quite understand. If Wii implement chat system why will they have to fight microsoft? Because MS license the right to chat via console?

It would be yet another example of the poorly functioning patent system, simply granting patents for everything without thinking.

In short what it means is that if Nintendo so wishes they can sue MS and probably Sony when their network goes live because they 'own' the idea of using IM on a console. If the courts upheld this stupid patent, then MS would either have to pay damages and remove the messaging features of Live, or pay Nintendo a licensing fee.

[TheGrandMom]

Re: WOW, what do you say now Microsoft?

Yep its a lot of "if's" but it will give the MS haters something to giggle about.

It's just aggravating for the gamer. Just like Sony's missing rumble feature from the PS3 controller.

[DakAttack]

Re: WOW, what do you say now Microsoft?

If I patented common sense(don't doubt that I could) I wouldn't make any money from it.

I think it's just so common to see chat programs these days, both text and voice, that it would be insane to argue that only one company has the rights to it.

[Stromgarde]

Re: WOW, what do you say now Microsoft?

Sounds suspiciously like POL.

[Murphie]

Re: WOW, what do you say now Microsoft?

If I patented common sense(don't doubt that I could) I wouldn't make any money from it.

I think it's just so common to see chat programs these days, both text and voice, that it would be insane to argue that only one company has the rights to it.

Yeah, that's kind of how I see it. As much as I'm not really a fan of Microsoft, I do think the chat functionality with Live is really pretty awesome, and I'd hate to see them have to get rid of it or pay up a bunch of money because some company thought of it first but didn't implement it.

[Mhurron]

Re: WOW, what do you say now Microsoft?

it would be insane to argue that only one company has the rights to it.

Amazon has a patant for "A Method and System for Placing a Purchase Order Via a Communications Network"

Networks Associates has a patent on "Scanning computer files for unwanted properties"

Microsoft holds a patant for "System and method for redundant array network storage" Issued in 2006

Microsoft holds patents on Icons used in Windows Icons used in Windows

EA holds a patant on 'Episodic delivery of content'

AOL holds a patent on 'System for instant messaging the sender and recipients of an e-mail message'

A British company seems to hold a patent on MMO's called 'Electronic game system'

In short, if it has ever been thought of, a company has patented it and will claim ownership of the idea.

[Thrasher]

Re: WOW, what do you say now Microsoft?

Accually im glad Nintendo holds the patent for that I would hate to see a situation like the blackberry, or what like what Creative Labs did to Aureal. But this is most likely to protect there upcomeing service so they dont get sued.

And on that note I just remembered I have to cancel my XBOX live account before I charged for service. (Im not into playing XBOX anymore)

[Matera]

Re: WOW, what do you say now Microsoft?

I patented video gaming 59 years ago.

Everyone who's ever made or played a game owes me 50 dollars.

[Rodin]

Re: WOW, what do you say now Microsoft?

Microsoft won't get sued. They have a killer legal team who will probably end up doing something very simple. Honestly, what they could do is apply for a patent that says they have all the rights to Instant Messaging over Xbox consoles. What this means, is, Nintendo can't do crap. It's all in how you word things. If Nintendo left one loophole, Microsoft and Sony will exploit it. Nintendo doesn't have free reign on instant messaging across all consoles, because they only have patents over their own, and have no say on Microsoft's console, because the patent existed for Xbox, before Nintendo's IMing Patent.

I'll say it again, it's all about the wording.

Example:

A radio host a few years back in California, said there was a chemical called "Dihydroxide" in the city's water supply. He informed the public that in the chemical's purest, distilled form, it can act as a poison to the human body. He said symptoms included profuse sweating, and urinating.

Dihydroxide, is water. Everything he said was true. Many hospitals in CA had people rushing in complaining of the symptoms, and phones were ringing off the hook.

It's all how people word things, lol.

[Neomage]

Re: WOW, what do you say now Microsoft?

Microsoft won't get sued. They have a killer legal team who will probably end up doing something very simple. Honestly, what they could do is apply for a patent that says they have all the rights to Instant Messaging over Xbox consoles. What this means, is, Nintendo can't do crap. It's all in how you word things. If Nintendo left one loophole, Microsoft and Sony will exploit it. Nintendo doesn't have free reign on instant messaging across all consoles, because they only have patents over their own, and have no say on Microsoft's console, because the patent existed for Xbox, before Nintendo's IMing Patent.

I'll say it again, it's all about the wording.

Example:

A radio host a few years back in California, said there was a chemical called "Dihydroxide" in the city's water supply. He informed the public that in the chemical's purest, distilled form, it can act as a poison to the human body. He said symptoms included profuse sweating, and urinating.

Dihydroxide, is water. Everything he said was true. Many hospitals in CA had people rushing in complaining of the symptoms, and phones were ringing off the hook.

It's all how people word things, lol.

LMAO thats awsome! After reading it, it makes sence, because Di(2)Hydro(H)oxide(O) = H2O, which is the chemical compound for water. Was confusing at first though.

[Mhurron]

Re: WOW, what do you say now Microsoft?

Microsoft won't get sued. They have a killer legal team who will probably end up doing something very simple. Honestly, what they could do is apply for a patent that says they have all the rights to Instant Messaging over Xbox consoles.

While they could do this, and would get the patent since the system is horribly broken, you can not hope to keep a patent that is merely a subset of another patent. Nintendo 'owns' IM features for consoles. The new patent would be invalidated by the older patent.

While MS may hold some patents relating to the XBox360, and I don't know how since there is nothing special or new in them that they created, that does not mean that they are somehow immune to patent law.

[Rodin]

Re: WOW, what do you say now Microsoft?

Then don't call it "Instant Messaging", call it "Buddy Chat" or something. And then you're not in violation. And yes, our system is horribly broken. @.@

[Mhurron]

Re: WOW, what do you say now Microsoft?

Then don't call it "Instant Messaging", call it "Buddy Chat" or something. And then you're not in violation. And yes, our system is horribly broken. @.@

So you think that if I 'invent' a method for desalination of water that is exactly the same as another patented process and simply call it purification I won't get sued for infringement. Guess again, look up the phrase "prior art."

Incidentally, Nintendo's patent probably also fails for the same reason. I believe AOL probably owns a patent on Instant messaging over a network that predates this.

That patent could also fail when you take into account when Unix 'talk' was created (1983).

The patent system is broken because no one ever looks into whether or not the exact same thing has been done before.

BTW, the wheel was patented in Austrailia in 2001.