The Dutch electronics manufacturer claims that Nintendo has infringed numerous patents it made with its development of the two consoles, issuing a cease and desist order to prohibit the hardware from being sold in the US.
The infringements include, but are not not limited to, Nintendo’s Wiimote being used to to communicate with the console by pointing it at the TV screen, and a “Virtual Body Control Device” which allows users to replicate actions in a virtual environment using their own body movements. This patent was allegedly created by Philips way back in 1996, but Philips claims that Nintendo was made aware of it in 2011 yet failed to take action to acquire the license to use it.
If Philips wins the court battle then it will be entitled to a large amount of compensation and, though it is thoroughly unlikely that this will be the case, could prevent Nintendo from selling the Wii U and Wii in the US. The documents sent to Nintendo from Philips can be viewed here.
