WotC sues Nintendo over Pokemon

[Psion]

WotC did indeed patent the 'tapping' rules for CCGs. I was stunned by the patent myself, let alone that it was aproved and then that no one challenged it in court.

(Shrug) The patent office has a long history of stupid patents; this won't be the first. Many people familiar with the process and shoddy execution are pushing for patent reform.

But perhaps, this lawsuit is where we will see the patent invalidated.

 

[Michael Morris]

(Shrug) The patent office has a long history of stupid patents; this won't be the first. Many people familiar with the process and shoddy execution are pushing for patent reform.

But perhaps, this lawsuit is where we will see the patent invalidated.

I would think those patents would have expired by now. Unlike copyrights, patents don't really last that long (5-10 yrs IIRC)

 

[Tsyr]

Patent Denied

What Can Be Patented

*snip*

My point was kinda that things that shouldnt be patented, even under patent law, have managed to.

 

[jgbrowning]

I would think those patents would have expired by now. Unlike copyrights, patents don't really last that long (5-10 yrs IIRC)

I think the two patents were filed in 95 and approved in 97. It's not really that long ago (if you're old ).

joe b.

 

[Psion]

I would think those patents would have expired by now. Unlike copyrights, patents don't really last that long (5-10 yrs IIRC)

It depends on what is being patented, but I think many patents go 20 years.

Still, even 10 years is too long for some silly patents that pretend that some obvious feature is amazingly innovative and deserves patent protection. Like that whole amazon one-click thing. "Buy with one click." Yeah, that's a process.

 

[Ranger REG]

I would think those patents would have expired by now. Unlike copyrights, patents don't really last that long (5-10 yrs IIRC)

About 20 years from the filing date. According to the USPTO database, Wizard's card game method of play will expire in 2017.

 

[LightPhoenix]

Nintendo spun off Pokemon USA in order to basically keep all the Pokemon profits in house. Lagging Gamecube sales are killing them and Pokemon is a cash cow for them, but they were previously only getting licensing fees while WotC got all the profits.

I'm gonna step in on the one thing I know about. Nintendo is having very few problems with console sales. They pretty much have a monopoly on the handheld market, and the Gamecube is selling very well both here and in Japan, especially since the price cut to 99 dollars.

 

[Arnwyn]

Uh, not to hijack, but the GameCube started "selling very well" only when the price was cut to $99. There's a reason 3rd party publishers were jumping ship in droves. (The GBA, on the other hand, is a selling machine.)

 

[LightPhoenix]

Uh, not to hijack, but the GameCube started "selling very well" only when the price was cut to $99. There's a reason 3rd party publishers were jumping ship in droves. (The GBA, on the other hand, is a selling machine.)

Well, you have to realize that consoles are usually sold at a loss, especially by Nintendo. They make up for that loss from licensing, games, peripherals, magazines, and all of that - which Nintendo does do. Nintendo also has recognition - tons of people know about Link and Mario and Samus, even casual gamers or non-gamers. When Sony priced the PSX at three-hundred dollars (to make a profit on the console), only hardcore gamers bought it - it wasn't until the price drop that it began to be popular.

And quite frankly, 3rd party support has never been Nintendo's forte - especially since the Playstation came out. Sony has absolutely dominated that since their debut in the console arena, and most of Nintendo's most successful games were produced by themselves or one of their exclusive publishers.

Also, the best explanation I've heard about the difference between PS2 and GC is that Nintendo caters more to families and children, the casual players; whereas Sony tends to cater to adults more, the serious players.

So when I say the GC sold really well, I mean they moved enough units so that the "serious player" consumer base bought the console (and usually bought a PS2 as well). Now that the price is more manageable, and more within a price range parents (and casual players) are more willing to buy at, of course sales have boomed. But the debut of the GC has never been viewed as anything less than a success.

Besides which, as I said before, the GBA is practically a monopoly, and the original was, to my knowledge, the best selling console system ever. So Nintendo has absolutely nothing to make up for console-wise. They were doing fine before Pokemon, doing fine now, and will do fine in the future.

 

[Mark]

WotC sues Nintendo over Pokemon

...and the parent company is also unhappy...

Hasbro Demands Gamemaker Immediately Stop Selling Highly Offensive `Ghettopoly' Board Game