Sony Pays $150M to Settle Immersion PlayStation Patent Suit

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 2, 2007 - 1:01pm.

San Jose, Calif. - Immersion Corp., a developer of touch feedback technology used in video game controllers and other products, announced that it has settled its patent infringement lawsuit against Sony Computer Entertainment.

San Jose, Calif.-based Immersion sued Sony in 2002, seeking $299 million in damages for the company's use of its "vibro-tactile" technology in its PlayStation 2 controllers.

A federal jury found in 2004 that Sony indeed violated Immersion's patents, but a damage award was stayed pending Sony's appeal.

The settlement announced on Thursday calls for Sony to pay $97.2 million in damages and interest. The company will also pay $22.5 million to license Immersion's technology through 2009, and other unspecified fees that are estimated to make for a total settlement of at least $150.3 million.

The "rumble" feedback was not included on the controller design of the new PlayStation 3, but now may be added soon.

"We are pleased to have put this litigation behind us," said Immersion CEO Victor Viegas. "[We] hope to make technical proposals very soon with respect to use of our technology in the PlayStation products."

 

Related Links:
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070301/sfth075.html?.v=79

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070301/sony_playstation_lawsuit.html (AP)

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9584_22-6163803.html

http://www.immersion.com



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