Nintendo faces patent infringement lawsuit over its Switch console controllers
According to its latest earnings report, Nintendo has sold 4.7 million units of Switch, since it was launched this year. It not only helped the firm re-establish itself but also report an operating profit of 16.21 billion yen in the first quarter. However, trouble is brewing. The video game developer has been recently sued by Gamevice for patent infringement. Here's more about it.
What's the hiccup?
Gamevice is a firm, which makes video game controllers that can be attached to tablets and smartphones. Its complaint, filed in California, said, "Nintendo's infringement has caused, and is continuing to cause, damage and irreparable injury to Gamevice," and that Nintendo should cease production and sale of Switch. The US mobile gaming accessory firm said Nintendo should also pay for the firm's revenue losses.
How did it do so?
As per the lawsuit filed by Gamevice, Nintendo's Switch's controllers dubbed Joy-Cons, which are capable of sliding into a tablet computer to facilitate portable gaming, infringe on their patents. Gamevice has a product, which is similar to these Joy-Cons, for Android and Apple devices. It allows the user to play video games via buttons and joysticks instead of the device's touchscreen.
What led to the lawsuit?
Gamevice said that they were given this patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in September 2015, which is almost a year before Switch made its debut in the market. Therefore, according to the firm, Nintendo has directly or indirectly infringed on the patent. Although it has asked to be paid for the damages, the amount is unknown. Nintendo hasn't responded yet.
