Updated: Nintendo Patent Infringement Suit Dismissed

Posted by Dan on July 17, 2009

Earlier this week, Judge Manuel Real summarily dismissed Guardian Media Technologies’ patent infringement claim against Nintendo. The suit alleged that Nintendo infringed their patents relating to V-chip content censoring technology. Nintendo’s prevailed by countering that while the Wii does have parental controls, Guardian’s patent was limited to movies and TV shows — things that Wii doesn’t offer. Guardian appears to be something of a patent troll — according to Business Week, they’ve sued “a slew” of tech companies after receiving the patents from the original inventor, but only two of the companies have settled. Nintendo was just one of around forty defendants Guardian sued for various patent infringement claims – the cases against thirty-eight other defendants remain ongoing.

UPDATE: In a statement, SVP and General Counsel for Nintendo of America Rick Flamm elaborated slightly. “Nintendo vigorously defends patent lawsuits … At the earliest stages of this case, Nintendo convinced the court to dismiss this case as Guardian’s patent had nothing to do with Nintendo’s products.” The case information, in case anyone is interested, is Guardian Media Technologies Ltd. v. Coby Electronics Corp., 08cv8439, U.S. District Court, Central District of California (Los Angeles).

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