Comments on: Hillcrest Labs: Nintendo's Wii Infringing Our Patents

By: What the Wii Hath Wrought: The Gesture-Control Space Heats Up

What the Wii Hath Wrought: The Gesture-Control Space Heats Up — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:01:39 +0000

[...] what you want. For those who have played with the Wii, the experience is very similar. In fact, Hillcrest is suing Nintendo for patent infringement. A Hillcrest representative wouldn’t comment on the suit other than [...]

By: jjray

jjray — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:18:56 +0000

“My question is why did it take so long for this company to file suit?”
Because the potential damages (i.e., stakes in the poker contest) go up if the alleged infringing product has been out in the market for awhile.

By: The New Remotes of CES

The New Remotes of CES — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 15:56:14 +0000

[...] this is the third CES I’ve seen Hillcrest Labs exhibit their motion control solution, which predates Nintendo’s Wii controller. However, they seem to have picked up only a little traction in licensing their tech to Logitech [...]

By: JP

JP — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 05:20:42 +0000

Om,
The ITC formally agreed to hear Hillcrest’s case today (9/17). See ITC statement: http://www.usitc.gov/ext_relations/news_release/2008/er0917ff1.htm

Also, Hillcrest disclosed today that Kodak is using their technology for the new Kodak Theatre HD Player, which will be available this month. Product description is here: http://www.kodak.com/eknec/PageQuerier.jhtml?pq-path=13111&pq-locale=en_US

Here’s an excerpt from Hillcrest’s press release today from Kodak:

“It is important to Kodak to partner with innovative companies that
complement Kodak technologies,” said Julie Gerstenberger, Kodak’s Director of External Alliances and Vice President, Office of the CTO. “Hillcrest Labs’ unique 3-D like applications and motion-control technology offer compelling advantages, and we’re pleased to have licensed its technologies.”

By: desu

desu — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 03:05:13 +0000

Truth be told, even if the lawsuit falls in favor of Hillcrest Labs, and Nintedo’s product is ordered to leave the American market, Popular demand
dictates the Nintendo will now receive much more attention that whatever product Hillcrest claims to have.
thank u hillcrest, you have made Nintendo much more popular,

By: funny

funny — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:45:04 +0000

Is this a marketing strategy? Since they are not widely known. More people will know them after reading this news.
There will be more upside than downside for a start-up doing this. There is nothing much to lose besides venture capital money, but if then win, they win big.

By: Jari

Jari — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 19:55:00 +0000

Finally a legit claim. I had seen enough of those “We own the patents to red rounded block made out of plastic that is halfway inside another plastic block and can be pressed down with one finger” type of lawsuits. :)

By: mobilecity.co.nz » Oh No! Don’t Spoil Our Fun! Wii Gets Slapped with Patent Infringement

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:01:42 +0000

[...] GigaOM has more. [...]

By: Between the Lines mobile edition

Between the Lines mobile edition — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 09:22:08 +0000

[...] GigaOM: HillCrest Labs: Nintendo’s Wii Infringing Our Patents [...]

By: shop fitting

shop fitting — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 03:43:27 +0000

this is getting ridiculous. for one, there’s no crossover between the wii and media centre markets. secondly, it’s getting to the point where eventually one company will patent “bricks” and be the only ones allowed to manufacture them.

also interesting in the video how they said it doesn’t work like the wii.. i’m assuming was filmed before litigation? ;)

By: All the iTunes You Can Eat? Color Me Skeptical | Technologizer

All the iTunes You Can Eat? Color Me Skeptical | Technologizer — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:31:42 +0000

[...] Wii Are Sued If you’ve ever used the ring-shaped remote control invented by Hillcrest Labs–hey, don’t they make bacon, too?–your response has probably been the same as mine: It’s an awful lot like Nintendo’s Wii remote. According to Hillcrest, though, we all had it reversed. It’s the Wii remote that resembles its remote, and which violates Hillcrest patents. The company is hauling Nintendo into court–I have no opinion on the validity of its claim, but I do hope that nothing happens that makes it even harder to snag a Wii. Read more at: Crave, GigaOM [...]

By: Robotech_Master

Robotech_Master — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:22:14 +0000

This seems a trifle different than your average patent troll suit—unlike those holding companies that exist only for the purpose of suing people, this company actually has produced a product.

Should be interesting to watch.

By: LM

LM — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 23:55:37 +0000

My question is why did it take so long for this company to file suit?

By: Oh No! Don’t Spoil Our Fun! Wii Gets Slapped with Patent Infringement | Sipy

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 22:15:31 +0000

[...] GigaOM has more. [...]

By: BJ

BJ — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:45:38 +0000

“this is commonsense, how did they get a patent for a hierarchical categorization”

The USPTO is tripe. They are understaffed and have government employees that are merited based on their patent throughput. It’s much easier for them to accept patents than reject them. That requires more paperwork!

By: LH

LH — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 20:33:04 +0000

Was reading the section 983 description in the first document, and just kept thinking – this is commonsense, how did they get a patent for a hierarchical categorization. Oh well. Maybe I should go get a patent on an org chart. First you zoom out from the CEO…..