Mundi Posted December 30, 2008 Posted December 30, 2008 90's virtual world developers Worlds.com has fired the first shot in what could be a game company-spanning battle as they file suit against NCsoft for infringing on their patent for multiplayer virtual environments. The patent at question is 7,181,690, "System and Method for Enabling Users to Interact in a Virtual Space", which was file in August of 2000 and finally issued in February of last year. Reading over the patent, it basically covers the client/server-based system every single MMO on the market uses to allow multiple players to view and interact with each other in a virtual world. The suit, filed on Christmas Eve, claims that NCsoft has infringed on this patent across all of its MMO titles, from City of Heroes to Guild Wars to Dungeon Runners. After reading over the patent, it looks like they've actually got a pretty solid case on their hands. Worlds seeks damages from NCsoft, as well as assurances that the MMO publisher will not infringe on their second patent, 6,219,045 - "Scalable Virtual World Chat Client-Server System". Mark my words here - NCsoft is just the beginning. Their patent pretty much covers every instance where users with avatars interact in a virtual space. From Second Life to World of Warcraft, PlayStation Home to Anarchy Online; everything massively online and multiplayer falls under this patent. This should be interesting, folks. http://kotaku.com/5119944/worldscom-files-suit-against-ncsoft-+-every-other-mmo-company-to-follow Excessive bitterness in title due to stupid copyright laws. Even if this goes trough or not it infuriates me that someone can hold a patent like this: http://www.google.com/patents?id=wv5-AAAAEBAJ&dq=7,181,690
Shino Posted December 30, 2008 Posted December 30, 2008 Everyone that tries to sue companies this way should be sued themselves. A 9 year old patent in which the holder did nothing to use it should be sued for halting development. How can something so ambiguous be patented?! Is there ANY other way to make a virtual interactive world? Its in the fucking title!!
Mundi Posted December 30, 2008 Author Posted December 30, 2008 Everyone that tries to sue companies this way should be sued themselves. A 9 year old patent in which the holder did nothing to use it should be sued for halting development. How can something so ambiguous be patented?! Is there ANY other way to make a virtual interactive world? Its in the fucking title!! Exactly! It´s driving me insane! When you check the patent it pretty much covers anything that is online and you control an avatar!
Sheikah Posted December 30, 2008 Posted December 30, 2008 Wow, I wonder how that patent was ever allowed. It would be pretty much the same as the creator of the first video game patenting the concept of 'creating a visual electronic activity which a player can undertake'.
LegoMan1031 Posted December 30, 2008 Posted December 30, 2008 Wow, I wonder how that patent was ever allowed. It would be pretty much the same as the creator of the first video game patenting the concept of 'creating a visual electronic activity which a player can undertake'. Yep that what i was just thinking. stupid stupid patents Maybe we should all get together and make up some patent for ourselves? So in another 7 years we can sue a shit load of companies for it
Cube Posted December 30, 2008 Posted December 30, 2008 Lets patent "a device which allows the turning on and off of electronic devices".
Sheikah Posted December 30, 2008 Posted December 30, 2008 Lets patent "a device which allows the turning on and off of electronic devices". XD It really is such a stupid patent. It would also cost kajillions of jobs, so I can't see it standing up in court.
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