Thu, Jul 07, 2011 | 04:18 BST

Nintendo accused of 3DS tech patent infringement

A company founded by a former Sony engineer is suing Nintendo for patent infringement over the 3DS’s glasses-free technology.

Law360 reports Tomita Technology’s founder holds U.S. Patent No. 7,417,664 for “Stereoscopic Image Picking Up and Display System Based Upon Optical Axes Cross-Point Information.”

This patent reportedly concerns “technology relating to displaying stereoscopic images on-screen for viewing with the naked eye, i.e., without utilizing glasses or other devices.”

Tomita’s filing alleges the 3DS infringes this patent, which he applied for in 2003 and received in 2008.

Tomita holds over 70 patents and has applied for more than 100. The company is based in Japan and the US.

Thanks, 1UP.

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4 comments

danhese
07/07/11, 4:30 am

Lol, lets see how this turns out.

Christopher Jack
07/07/11, 6:20 am

Interesting, let’s see how Nintendo will squirm out of this one.

NapalmAssault
07/07/11, 9:14 am

I thought Sharp makes the sceen for the 3DS. How can Nintendo be the blame then?

Lightmanone
08/07/11, 3:48 am

That guy is gonna be very very rich. And Nintendo is not gonna be happy with this. This is gonna cost them millions. I mean.. If every 3DS has to be paid for patents, and it would be just 1 dollar. they are about 4 million in debt already.

My guess: they are settling with this guy for like 5 million or something.