DZComposer Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 As seems to happen with every successful electronic gadget, the 3DS has raised the ire of a patent holder. While most of these cases are just patent trolls, the details behind this one are interesting. As many of you know, the PS Vita will by Sony's first handheld that is able to compete with Nintendo on price. The battle between Vita and 3DS will likely be much greater than the PSP/DS battle, which Nintendo won hands-down. What is interesting in this case is that the company filing the patent suit on Nintendo has connections to Sony. Tomita Technologies claims that the 3DS's use of two independent cameras to produce a live 3D image on a parallax barrier screen infringes on this patent: http://www.google.com/patents?id=ngetAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&source=gbs_overview_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false Tomita Technologies was founded by an engineer who worked for Sony for over 30 years, and the complaint cites a Sony-owned website for the 3DS specs. To be fair, the patent was filed in 2003, and Tomita was founded in 2002. Is this just a coincidence, or did Sony just fire the opening salvo in the Vita/3DS battle in a nasty way by proxy? SRC: http://www.patentarcade.com/2011/07/nintendo-faces-suit-over-3ds.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psygonis Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Looks like it... But Sony guys were quite nosy for that one. The 3D-frenzy was far from having begun in 2002/2003! Too bad that instead of preparing some patent troll, they just didn't give it a try and be innovative... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star Fox Runner Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Huh....... now that IS interesting, I knew about the lawsuit, but not that Sony was indirectly involved. If this is a tactic by Sony to go against the 3DS, its a dirty one I can tell you that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deploy Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 I see pure suing for ze monies, jah. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psygonis Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Psygonis thinks and hopes it will fail! (like talking of oneself at the 3rd person for a long time... ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tailsz Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 If this is a tactic by Sony to go against the 3DS, its a dirty one I can tell you that. Haters gonna hate those whom handhelds are more successful then their handhelds. The whole reason I didn't get a PSP is because I said I already own a Gameboy Advance. (They look too similar) Wasn't Nintendo sued for the patent of the DSi camera functions? Hopefully Nintendo gets out of this unscathed. (Bad joke: If Sony asked the mirror who's handheld was the prettiest of them all, the 3DS would show up. xD) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabre Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 Here's the thing I don't get. I remember back in the 90s there being a guy who had 3D holiday photos. It was basicly a square shaped rig with a camera on 2 corners. Some fancy stuff later, 3D photos. I find it hard to believe that such simple tech like putting 2 cameras together would be something someone could patent. It kind of reminds me of sega owning the patent to floating arrows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psy_commando Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 People can make patent for such generic things. The two camera thing is actually inspired from the way we see depth. How about that guy sue the human race for using two cameras to see in 3d ? They really need to fix this up, or it sounds like it will stop or slow down any form of progress around here...:angry: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ARWINGCOMMANDER 3987 Posted July 8, 2011 Share Posted July 8, 2011 This is why I hate copyright. It's causing more problems than it's solving. Why make such a big deal over 3D photography patents anyway? It's not like they're murderers or terrorists. Some people just make an excessive deal over every little thing they can think of. Next thing you know Nintendo will be sued by PETA because all Pokemon look too much like real animals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DZComposer Posted July 8, 2011 Author Share Posted July 8, 2011 Copyright != Patent Copyright: The exclusive right to distribute a creative work (Literally the right to copy). (Example: Songs, video games, movies) Patent: The exclusive right to market an invention. (Example: a contraption that automatically peels a potato) Trademark: The exclusive right to use a name or some other identifying item to represent products or services. (Example: Coca-Cola soft drinks) Also, you can't sue someone because you don't like what they do, only if they break the law. There are two kinds of "illegal:" Criminal and Civil. Violations of Criminal Law is what most people think of when they hear the word "illegal." Criminal violations lead to jailtime, fines, etc. Civil violations are not punishable by jail or fine, but rather by the award of damages to the harmed party or the court compelling someone to do something Patent law is civil. Trademark Law is civil. Some aspects of Copyright law are criminal, but mostly copyright law is civil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shinigami Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Yeah, I don't really see Nintendo losing on this one. I mean, so what if it's not the most original idea? sounds like a load of bull for Sony to try and tarnish the former's rep and everything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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