Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo sued over joystick port interface

[Steven W]

More alleged patent infringements for the big three to answer.

Check out the Headline

[Dooms]

More of the same, people after money

[directhex]

remember, kids, joysticks didn't exist until the mid 90s. any you had for your spectrum, commodore, or similar, are figments of your imagination

why is "prior art" not important in patents anymore?

[GeorgeTuk]

These things are so yawnful now...I mean does somebody sit at a desk and go

"Bloody hell, Nintendo, Sony AND Microsoft have stolen our idea for a low voltage joystick. I can't believe I never realised this before!".

[shaithis]

Seems completely and utterly nonsense to allow someone to patent "a low voltage joystick"

I wonder if anyone has a patent on "black coat-hooks"?

[colincliff]

could check here: http://www.google.com/patents

[Dooms]

could check here: http://www.google.com/patents

COMPUTER
Inventor: Haruyuki Enomoto
Assignee: Sony Corporation

hmmmmm

[badass]

These things are so yawnful now...I mean does somebody sit at a desk and go

"Bloody hell, Nintendo, Sony AND Microsoft have stolen our idea for a low voltage joystick. I can't believe I never realised this before!".

There are companies in the states that use the blunderbus approach to patents - i.e. they patent everything a bunch of people can think of and then wait till other companies use this stuff and sue them.
Even if the patent is ridiculous like this one, its often easier for large companies to settle out of court for millions than take it through court.
Its a complete abuse of the court system and law IMO

[TheAnimus]

sad thing is these patents are actually granted!