3 December 2014Patents

Philips and Nintendo resolve patent disputes

Netherlands-based electronics company Philips has resolved its patent disputes with Nintendo over technology used in the games console maker’s products.

According to a statement yesterday (December 2) from Philips, the pair agreed to enter into a cross-licensing deal that would see Philips terminate patent infringement proceedings against Japanese company Nintendo in the UK, Germany, France and the US.

Financial details have not been disclosed.

In June, WIPR reported that Philips had won an infringement case against Nintendo at the English High Court.

The case related to the body-tracking technology used in Nintendo's Wii and DS consoles. Philips successfully asserted two patents—EP 1,573,498, which covers a "user interface system based on a pointing device", and EP 2,093,650, which describes a “model body in a virtual body”.

Philips had also filed complaints in the three other jurisdictions (Germany, France and the US).

Brian Hinman, chief IP officer at Philips, said: “We are very pleased to have reached this agreement with Nintendo. It demonstrates that both companies recognise the importance of intellectual property rights.”

Martina Franke, European general counsel of Nintendo Europe, added: “Nintendo has a substantial IP portfolio and a long history of developing innovative products while respecting valid intellectual property rights of others."

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