790°

Microsoft Sued Over Xbox Live

On June 22, 2009, the day before trial began, the judge in this patent infringement case made a key decision by opting to use the special master's construction of a disputed claim.

In 1991, Peter Hochstein and Jeffrey Tenenbaum came up with the idea of communicating live while playing the same video game in separate locations. They patented the technology for doing so in 1994. In 2002, Microsoft released Xbox Live, a gaming service that also allows users to communicate while playing the same game. Sony also released similar capabilities for PlayStation 2. In 2004, Hochstein, Tenenbaum and Harold Milton, Jr. (an assignee of the patent) brought a patent infringement suit against Microsoft and Sony alleging that the voice and data communications technology used in the gaming systems infringed on the patent claims. For relief they sought a permanent injunction and treble damages. Sony settled its suit in April 2009, leaving Microsoft as the only remaining defendant.

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patentarcade.com
Arsenic135412d ago

Attention fanboys. The same sh*t happened to Sony so please read the article before some retarded crap is written.

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swiftshot935412d ago

holy sh1t lol. Its funny though.

Tony P5412d ago

Seriously, if you can take the time to write a comment, take time to at least read the blurb. You all want to accuse MS of foul play, but you neglect to see both Sony and MS are at risk. Clearly stated in the blurb alone.

The guy sued both. Sony settled this year. He's also brought a new lawsuit against the two since they've since come out with new consoles running on what he says is his same idea.

heroicjanitor5412d ago

MS and Sony use different ways to support online play, so how can he sue both? Does he own all online play because he thought of it first?

Thugbot1875412d ago

Just so silly because the patent used the most generic terms to describe online video game computer communication. Hopeful Sony and Microsoft can beat this.

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IdleLeeSiuLung5412d ago

This is the problem with patenting software ideas. Example of this is the amazon 1-click purchase.

I guess all companies do this so they all kill each other while the lawyer is laughing all the way to the bank!

RememberThe3575412d ago

Sony settled this a while ago. This is behind them.

FamilyGuy5412d ago

That patent is just ridiculous, there should be technology related to patents because the ability to patent an idea limits everyone. Why should I pay royalties to "that guy" just cause he thought of riding a treadmill to power a generator first? He should only be able to patent idea technological method of doing so.

If sony paid/settled the first time then his case against the PS3 and 360 are just as valid this time since he still owns the patent. Unless sony paid for constant use or something...

Arsenic135412d ago

I sacrificed a bubble to call out these fanboy tards.

FamilyGuy5412d ago

Well I lost 4 bubbles since yesterday for speaking out, WITHOUT BASHING, so beat that. LOL@me :(

AAACE55412d ago

The main question is, people have been playing PC games and communicating longer than Xbox and Playstation have been doing it. Why haven't they sued PC manufactuers or game companies?

I guess it's just easier to go after a defined big target as the culprit!

OgTheClever5412d ago

These kind of lawsuits really annoy me because it's more or less the case of somebody patenting something yet had no real plans of doing it themselves anyway. So if somebody comes up with a similar idea 10 years later, and it is in no way influenced by the original idea, then there really shouldn't be a problem.

JoySticksFTW5412d ago

And MS has more money than... well anyone... so they'll be all right

y0haN5412d ago

Lol, what you can get away with a patent these days. I'm sure these people patented drinking water and using the toilet.

+ Show (18) more repliesLast reply 5412d ago
Lord Shuhei Yoshida5412d ago

M$ stealing the ideas of someone else is not new.Good thing that Microshaft already has the patents to flops and defective hardware

Sunny_D5412d ago

YEAH MICROSOFT CAN KEEP THOSE... LOL

HarukoHex5412d ago

ahhh sony was also sued, but then again ignorant fanboys like yourself wouldn't read that far.

Narutone665412d ago

settled the suit. MS haven't, they must be too arrogant to do so.

HarukoHex5412d ago

heres the difference MS knows it will win, seeing how the two with the patent never actually made the technology they patented the "idea" if they had done that, it would have been done long before 2002. T_T i mean really, how blind are you. its like those other attacks against the wii, they patented the motion but never actually made the device or knew how to due it, they only had the idea. so they will just loose. its just sony is to much of a coward to actually fight for what they help make. not the 2 losers who went hey i have a idea. and never do any actual work.

JohnnyBadfinger5412d ago (Edited 5412d ago )

You cant get everything for free!
Thats why Sony will ultimately loss the online war, they cant keep adding features and say have it for free because they are running at a loss cause with each new feature thats someone else they gotta pay.

XBOX LIVE will NEVER be free and rightfully so, But its only a matter of time before Sony start raping the PS3 owners pockets when they realise they cant deliver a feature that aint making them any money, or they'll just bin the feature all together (unlikely).

the clocks ticking droids, enjoy it while it lasts, cause it aint got long left.

AngryTypingGuy5412d ago (Edited 5412d ago )

Lord Sh!thead, try reading more than two lines in. Sony was guilty of the same thing, it's just that they already settled.

JohnnyBadfinger, you're exactly right. I don't know for sure whether PSN will always be free or turn into a pay service, but you can bet that Sony sees MS making a killing off of Live, and it's in the back of Sony's head that charging for PSN can be an extra source of MUCH NEEDED revenue.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 5412d ago
HarukoHex5412d ago

OMG, World of warcraft, city of heros villians, rune scape, ever quest, final fantasy 11, how about the ps2, you actually had to buy a extra 150$ device just to get online, oh how about this one. all those PC servers you all say are free. they are not, someone actually pays to let you play on them, if they all stoped you couldn't play anymore.....hmmm. you sony fans really can't think very well, if its not free its not worth it, really, tell that to every car dealer in the world, you have to pay 500$ more for a good stereo on the car, up to 1000$ for some decent looking tires. maybe those should be free since you can't drive the car without them. see this is how your logic looks.

UnwanteDreamz5412d ago (Edited 5412d ago )

So you're saying Sony giving something to their customers for free is a bad thing?

Wel I can see why you are stuck in the openzone. You kids make me laugh when you try to sound smart.

HarukoHex5411d ago

who said i was stuck in the open zone. >.>....as for sony and free we all know how that works, remember all the extra stuff they promised in HOME, yet most of that is not there. because its free. and how about the fact sony charges like 3.99 for a couch in home. what kinda of BS is that. you can't even get fake money to buy a couch in the game, you have to use your real money to add something you will never use in RL. so tell me who is really the criminal of the OMG lets make them pay for it. ROFL.

UnwanteDreamz5407d ago

Lets pretend that you know what you are talking about.

Now you would be aware that Home users get free items every month. You would be aware of the fact that you don't have to buy a single thing in Home to enjoy chatting and playing mini games. You would be aware of the fact that you are given FREE clothing spaces and decor such as a couch when you DL the free app.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 5407d ago
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50°

Pacific Rim Pinball comes to Pinball FX

This could be fun as they make great tables. Go big or go extinct. Prime your senses for a neural handshake and step into the cockpit of a Jaeger. It is on you to cancel the apocalypse when Pacific Rim Pinball comes to Pinball FX on May 16.

230°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

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theverge.com
darthv7220h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle7h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18814h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio4h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Cacabunga6h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

shinoff21835h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga4h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan34m ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

purple1019h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos8h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

XBManiac8h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad7h ago(Edited 7h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1017h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos7h ago(Edited 7h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic5h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

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140°

Why Monopolies In Gaming Must Not Be Allowed

As of right now, there are no monopolies in the games industry, and for the sake of the medium as a whole, they never should either.

thorstein18h ago

Shouldn't be allowed in any field.

Inverno14h ago

And yet the biggest tech companies in America are essentially that. They buy up all the small comps only to kill them off and steal what they have, and if they can't buy em they bleed them to death.

jwillj2k413h ago

Eventually they’ll realize the value is with the employee not the company. Buying an IP means nothing if the people who contributed are let go. They’ll get it one day.

MrCrimson13h ago

tech is different because they buy threats and then kill them. Twitter bought Vine and did nothing with it. Despite people seemingly liking it. Could've had tiktok a decade before bytedance. go figure.

Zenzuu14h ago

Monopolies shouldn't be allowed regardless. Not just for gaming.

MrCrimson13h ago

They buy IPs not talent. That's why these buyouts never work and the IPs die. Right now it's too expensive to develop games - but I expect that to shift maybe as AI tools can make it easier. The best games have been indie games for awhile as big developers fuck their ips to death with "games as a service" -