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Interlink Electronics, maker of “human interface” devices including navigation rings (think iPod), micro joysticks, mice and remotes, has filed a lawsuit against Nintendo concerning the WiiMote design. Filed on December 4, 2006, Interlink’s Complaint for Patent Infringement asks for a preliminary and permanent injunction, a trial, and of course, damages (times three!) for losses incurred due to Nintendo selling the WiiMote. The basis for their lawsuit is Interlink’s patent (#6,850,221) filed September 1997 and issued to Interlink February 2005.

Originally intended to be used for PCs, the patent describes their device as:

“[A] portable, trigger operated pointing device for use with an electronically responsive system, the pointing device comprising: a housing for location at least partly between a first finger and a thumb of a user’s hand.”

The diagram here (above) was one of several included in the Patent filing. If you ask me, it looks a heck of a lot more like Roku’s remote, though that doesn’t have any motion sensitivity.

Read [Kotaku] Site [Interlink]

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