Blackmoor Vituperative

Just when Microsoft and Nintendo thought they were safe from the madness that is the United States patent system, a Texas-based company called Anascape comes along and sues both console makers over 12 patents relating to video game controllers.

[…]

Anascape filed suit against Microsoft and Nintendo in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas this past Monday. Anascape has accused the companies of infringing on a dozen different patents that were issued between 1999 and 2005. The patents seem to deal with almost every aspect of today’s modern video game controller, such as analog controls, analog pressure sensors for buttons, vibration and tactile feedback, and more.

(from GameDaily, Microsoft, Nintendo Hit with Controller Patent Lawsuit)

Our patent system is a cruel joke. It will get worse before it gets better.

By the way, don’t lump patents together with unrelated issues like trademarks, or copyright. They are each completely different issues. (I know, I know: I do it, too.)