MMO Game Law Suits

[Jhadur]

NCSoft being sued by worlds.com over a patent about interaction in a virtual world. This could get interesting.

Just read this and from what I understand they could even file against Nintendo and MS if they wanted.

Linky (http://kotaku.com/5119944/worldscom-files-suit-against-ncsoft-+-every-other-mmo-company-to-follow) to story.

Linky (http://www.virtualworldsnews.com/2008/12/worldscom-v-ncsoft-update.html) to update.

Linky (http://www.google.com/patents?id=wv5-AAAAEBAJ&dq=7,181,690) to patent

[Pumpkinstew]

I'd be surprised if NCSoft didn't let this go to court. Losing would set a dangerous precedent for other big MMO publishers and I suspect they would be very happy to pool some resources and beat the first case to go to court. Even if they lose they can drag it out over appeal and wait for Worlds.com to go bankrupt.

It looks like this is a US patent only? It's massively unlikely but what if everyone simply offered to shut down their US based MMo servers. How long would Worlds.com's offices last before irate US WoW players firebombed them? ;D Or would they simply make do with high pings on overseas servers?

[Garp]

Hmm.. Meridian 59 came out in '95, wonder if that counts as sufficient prior art.

According to their site the "3D" one is quite specific describing what looks like a very exact layout of servers / infrastructure and how everything is split up. I wonder how they proved that one with NCSoft, MMO companies are notoriously closed mouthed about their server setups.

Filing in Texas is just ugly tactics though. Deliberately picking a state where the Jury is strongly biased against foreign companies. They're utter cowards effectively admitting they think their patents aren't strong enough to stand up before an unbiased jury.

[Mark]

Just read this and from what I understand they could even file against Nintendo and MS if they wanted.
... to get shat on from a great height by experienced patent lawyers.

Yet another company set up with the sole intent to go patent-chasing for a quick buck. I hope they follow SCO into Chapter 11 - as quickly as possible. ::/:

[Garp]

... to get shat on from a great height by experienced patent lawyers.

Yet another company set up with the sole intent to go patent-chasing for a quick buck. I hope they follow SCO into Chapter 11 - as quickly as possible. ::/:

Actually, in this case worlds.com has been around for more than a decade and does normal computing type work in an appropriate field to claim such patents.

[Streeteh]

Surely this would be classed as one of those sweeping patents that just covers too much potential products to actually stand up in court? If they were to win then essentially every MMO and most online games would also be infringing on the patent.

[Mark]

Actually, in this case worlds.com has been around for more than a decade and does normal computing type work in an appropriate field to claim such patents.
Yup, same with SCO, so the comparison was fair (but poorly worded - I blame Opera). :)