Nintendo Sued Over Wii Remote

With all the reports of snapping Wii Remote wrist straps causing broken TVs, Nintendo has been hit with the first lawsuit over its controllers. The surprising thing, however, is that the complaint is not because of a broken TV, but rather patent infringement.

Interlink Electronics is suing Nintendo over the Wii Remote’s trigger button, which Interlink claims to be its own original patented design.

DailyTech - Nintendo Sued Over Wii Remote

Another is the Wii’s pointer functionality, which Interlink maintains is covered by its patent too. Interlink’s device also has a suitable sensor to determine where on the screen the controller is pointing and to detect trigger presses. Interestingly, Interlink saw the gadget more as a mouse alternative than a videogames console controller.

Trigger-fitted devices go back well beyond Interlink’s filing. As Kotaku, which broke lawsuit story, notes, the Nintendo 64 has a trigger on its controller released in September 1996, a year before Interlink filed to have its idea protected as a patent.

Reg Hardware - Nintendo sued over alleged Wii Remote patent violation