Nintendo Wins Patent Appeal Over Controllers

Back in 2008, a company called Anascape sued Nintendo for infringing upon patents in Nintendo's line of controllers. The jury found that Nintendo did infringe upon Anascape's patents with its Wii Classic Controller, Wavebird, and GameCube controllers and was ordered to pay $21 million to Anascape, which had previously sued Microsoft in 2006, but that case was settled out of court.

Nintendo announced in 2008 that it planned to appeal the ruling. That happened and the decision has been rendered: Nintendo did not infringe on any patents belonging to Anascape in any of its controllers.

"In 2008, the jury determined that the Wii Remote and Nunchuk did not infringe,” said Nintendo of America General Counsel Rick Flamm. "Today the Federal Circuit's ruling confirmed that none of Nintendo's controllers infringe. We appreciate that our position has been vindicated."

Though figures were not discussed, it is likely that Nintendo does not owe Anascape any money.