MAJOR copyright suit involving MMOs

[Olo401]

MMO Developers Sued for Patent Infringement - Tom's Hardware

This could get really nasty real quick since it looks like it affects every MMO that uses a WoW-style interface. Would that mean everything in the past 7 years except FFXI? I'm not sure someone help me out..

[Rydir]

Suing Sony's 1999 Everquest with a patent acquired in 2002 is serious business.....

[Rubett]

According to the company, it purchased two patents from HearMe back in 2002 to cover technologies for sharing data across a network of computers so that all users can view the same virtual environment in real time.

Are they trying to sue every single game with multiplayer capabilities?

Turn based games go!

[_chuchu]

Recession card.

[Shojin]

They bought the patent for $200,000 if I remember right, the difference is though, Microsoft actually approached the company about the technology for use in their games, Microsoft ended up not going with the company and according to them "yoinked the idea" and used it themselves.

After Microsoft settled with them recently for an undisclosed amount, it seems that they're trying to go after other companies. Case of greed? Most probably. But I don't think they will be successful with the other companies.

[Correction]

Oh look, Prior Art.

Fuck patent trolls.

[Qalbert]

not as bad as the edge troll

[BRP]

Fuck patent trolls.

When, oh when is this going to be fixed?

[MisterBob]

Patent minefield. Common tactic for companies.

This is not a big deal at all, pretty much what goes on in the corporate world on a daily basis.

[aalryn]

I would love to be a patent troll. Get paid ridiculous sums of money simply because I purchased someone else's idea and can sue anyone having anything even remotely close to that.