i read about this, microsoft were involved too, i think they made an out of court settlement a couple of years ago whereas sony took it through the court.
what i don't understand, is how a company can patent feedback technology? i mean, sure you can patent a specific method of the technology, but it seems that immersion have managed to patent something so vague that it makes it difficult for anyone to make anything force feedback without it infringing on their methods. that means they've got a monopoly on it and everyone will have to pay them to license it.
i would have thought microsoft and sony would have designed their own controllers completely internally, if they'd required outside design, surely they would have sorted the license fee out then?
i also don't understand why the 47 software titles? are those sony software titles? if immersions patent extends to software, surely games from other companies will be affected as well?
and also... why not nintendo? gamecube pads rumble too, whats the difference with them that they don't infringe?
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