Thanks nexty for this.
Immersion is ready to rumble with the consumer tech giants over "haptic feedback"
Immersion, which develops technology that makes joysticks and video game pads vibrate and rumble, has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and Sony, claiming that elements of their video game consoles violate Immersion"s patents.
The company said on Monday that Sony"s use of feedback in controllers for its PlayStation and PlayStation 2 console, and Microsoft"s use of the same for its Xbox, violate Immersion"s patents on its "haptic feedback" technology.
A Sony spokesman was not immediately available for comment. A spokesman for Microsoft had not seen the suit and could not immediately comment.
The Sony and Microsoft video game consoles all have controllers that rumble and vibrate in conjunction with certain events, like explosions, in some of their video games.
San Jose, California-based Immersion said the suit was filed in federal court for Northern California after negotiations with Sony and Microsoft failed.