Nintendo has lost a patent infringement case by Dutch electronics firm Philips over motion control technology used in Nintendo Wii and Wii U game consoles in the UK.
The lawsuit covers the remote motion control and detection technology in the Wii systems, specifically motion control and wireless remote control by a second device. Philips claims that Nintendo was alerted regarding the technology infringements in 2011 but continued to violate the patents. Philips is demanding a ban on the manufacture and sale of the Wii U and other Nintendo hardware including the disputed technology.
Nintendo will appeal the decision.
“Nintendo has a long history of developing innovative products while respecting the intellectual property rights of others,” said Nintendo in a statement. “Nintendo is committed to ensuring that this judgment does not affect continued sales of its highly acclaimed line of video game hardware, software and accessories and will actively pursue all such legitimate steps as are necessary to avoid any interruptions to its business.”
Philips has filed a similar lawsuit against Nintendo in Germany, France and the US.
A patent suit by Triton Tech of Texas, LLC over technology used in the Nintendo Wii Remote was dismissed by a US federal appeals court earlier this month.
In February the US International Trade Commission also cleared Nintendo in lawsuit regarding microprocessor features and architecture in the company’s 3DS and DSi consoles. A patent lawsuit was also filed by IA Labs in 2010 regarding technology in Nintendo’s Wii Fit and Wii Fit Plus. Nintendo also won that case and acquired the entire patent portfolio of IA Labs in January.
