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Sony Faces Setback in Patent Battle Over Vibrotactile Technology
Sony Corp.’s battle with Immersion Corp. may be nearing an end. Immersion is the holder of U.S. patents for technology that makes game controllers and other related devices vibrate in response to various events within the game. Sony lost a jury trial in 2004 over its DualShock vibration feedback game controllers. An appeal in 2005 was denied and its damage payment obligations were increased to $91 million. Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Wilken rejected Sony’s attempt to reopen the case on the grounds that Immersion held back from Sony evidence crucial to the patents.
The evidence was in regards to prior developments by an inventor, Craig Thorner, who had patented similar technology. Immersion countered that Sony could have discovered the information during the trial, but chose not to. Judge Wilken agreed, and was also critical of the fact that Thorner had received a royalty payment and a purchase option from Sony. Immersion has concluded licensing deals with Microsoft, Samsung, BMW and others.
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