Nintendo Sued Over Wii Fit

15 Apr 2010 at 13:10:22 by Andy Alderson

A US company has filed a lawsuit against Nintendo claiming Wii Fit infringes on its patents.

Maryland-based IA Labs, also known as Powergrid Fitness, filed suits against Nintendo Japan and Nintendo of America on 2 April according to documents obtained by GamaSutra.

IA claims that two of its patents have been infringed by Nintendo hardware and software including Nintendo Wii, Wii Fit, Wii Fit Plus, the Wii Balance Board, Wii Remote, Wii Wheel, Wii MotionPlus, Wii Nunchuck and the Wii Zapper.

The patents in question concern an isometric exercise system which can be connected to a computer and a “"Force measurement system for an isometric exercise device."

IA Labs also claims that it held talks with Nintendo in 2007/8 over patent “overlaps” and licensing its tech to Nintendo. The company claims it has been “irreparably harmed" by the alleged infringement and is seeking an unspecified figure in damages as well as an injunction.

Nintendo, alongside Microsoft, recently won an appeal to overturn a previous ruling of patent infringement. It has also recently been suggested that a Wii Fit accident led to a UK woman developing sex addiction. Much to our disappointment, we suspect she is unlikely to sue. 
 

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