Did anyone see the patent lawsuit threatening MMOs?

[WiGgLr]

NCSoft is being sued by http://www.worlds.com/ for breach of the patent:
"System and method for enabling users to interact in a virtual space". (http://www.google.com/patents?id=wv5-AAAAEBAJ&dq=7,181,690)

Worlds also hold the patent for "Scalable virtual world client-server chat system (http://www.google.com/patents?id=BYoGAAAAEBAJ&dq=6,219,045)"

Sources:
Worlds.com threatens MMO industry with 2 core patents (http://www.massively.com/2008/12/12/patents-threaten-virtual-worlds-mmogs/)

NCSoft being sued (http://www.massively.com/2008/12/29/worlds-com-files-suit-against-ncsoft-for-patent-infringement/)

Commentary on case (http://www.massively.com/2008/12/30/the-patent-that-stole-christmas/)

[DarthS]

The American patent system is screwy beyond belief.

[EvilNookiEPoring]

It'll never work to be honest. Somethings just shouldn't be allowed to patent. Such as technologies that can benefit a much wider area than just a single company.

[Scurlock]

The description of the patent is so broad it is laughable :)

Agree with you DarthS :)

And anyways this patent was filed after other MMOs were out there, even MUDs like Meridian 59, no way they can win it...

Wondered why they haven't gone against Blizzard, or EA Mythic, or SOE..oh wait, money maybe :p

[DarthS]

Likely its whats known as a 'patent troll'. Put simply, you patent something amazingly simple, then use it to extort money out of smaller businesses who don't know any better. There was a group a while back who patented .jpeg files, then sent letters to any business with them on its website demanding compensation. A few gave it. By the time it all got sorted out the company had vanished, and the money with it.

[Bagpuss]

seeing as the patent was filed in 2000, theres a fair chance it will stick.

Arguably you can use the architecture section as a get-out if you got hammered with it.

[EvilNookiEPoring]

To be honest I don't see why they go up against NCSoft.. Not like they're any smaller than Blizzard. In fact I'd be surprised if they don't have more players than Blizz has anyway. NCSoft has sooo many games it's ridiculous. And they're huge in asia.

[WiGgLr]

They're comparitively small in US though, or perhaps they are banking on NCSoft not taking it seriously seeing as it's a US patent.

I think the goal is to win a case and set a precadent in order to go after "the big boys"

[Ludicrouse]

They're comparitively small in US though, or perhaps they are banking on NCSoft not taking it seriously seeing as it's a US patent.

I think the goal is to win a case and set a precadent in order to go after "the big boys"

Your spot on there Wig.

Without the precadent there cannot be any real threat to the likes of Blizzard and SOE whose main market share comes from the US.

I expect this to be settled out of court in all honesty. A whole chunk of money as a pay-off and then a company claiming a patent that just magically vanishes, just like Darth said.