Microsoft is taking a British peripheral manufacturer to court, alleging that the company – Datel – has “illegally copied” the publisher’s own Xbox 360 control pad designs.
The case centres around two of Datel’s third-party Xbox 360 control pads, the TurboFire and WildFire, which Microsoft claim infringe upon a “number” of patents governing its own, first-party peripherals.
It’s unclear what, exactly, Datel is alleged to have ripped off, but you can see the TurboFire controller above and the official Microsoft Xbox 360 controller below. They don’t exactly look alike, so the case must be focused on how the pads connect to the 360, something Microsoft has been notoriously protective of over the years.
Microsoft sues UK game controller maker [Reuters]
Fracture
Friday, April 2, 2010 at 8:08 PMMicrosoft get effed …. big “who cares” !!! it’s not like they need anymore money!
Dilbert
Friday, April 2, 2010 at 9:14 PMyer because im sure their investors would love them not needing any more money
Jeff Pearce
Friday, April 2, 2010 at 9:59 PMYou need to be able to protect your work. If Datel were stupid enough to try and steal original work from MS, than they should expect to be sued.
thepariah4231
Tuesday, October 4, 2011 at 10:47 AMBecause it’s not like MS has ever stole original work from anyone else..
*Cell processor designs used to base the Xenon*
Jonathan Betten
Friday, April 2, 2010 at 8:55 PMFracture you are a complete jockey, this isn’t about money, its about intellectual copyright on design, if they let people copy that without repercussion then the market will get flooded with generic crap that looks like their product. So I care, Microsoft should certainly care, and I’m sure any other top 100 company WOULD also care as well. Including Apple, Sony, Nintendo and any other games manufacturer.
Jay
Friday, April 2, 2010 at 10:56 PMOH NO.. they totally DON’T look alike now do they!!!!
I agree though, who cares?! I think if its got to do with connecting to the Xbox, fair enough, but if its based on the look of the controller etc… then get over it!!!
Tezz
Friday, April 2, 2010 at 11:11 PMfrom those pictures, its fairly obvious that Datel is going to be reemed in the lawsuit
Stinky
Saturday, April 3, 2010 at 2:46 AMMS probably has a point if they’re talking about the controller silhouette, which is clearly an MS trademark. But MS should be careful here, they could well open a can of worms or even whoop-ass.
Fracture
Saturday, April 3, 2010 at 12:29 AMJonathan Betten your completely wrong I don’t ride horses! completely WRONG!
Jonathan Betten
Saturday, April 3, 2010 at 10:20 AMwith comebacks like that I can see why.
Fracture
Saturday, April 3, 2010 at 5:07 PMJonathan .. get EFFED.