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SCEA, Ubi, Disney, EA Face Voice Tech Patent Suit
by Leigh Alexander [PC, Console/PC]
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November 18, 2009
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A Texas-based technology company has filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft, Sony Computer Entertainment of America, Electronic Arts and Disney alleging that the four companies' games violate a voice-recognition tech patent.
Bareis Technologies is the holder of a 13 year-old patent that covers automatic speech recognition tech built into CD players "for command and control purposes", and believes games are covered under this.
The company is seeking damages for infringement from the listed companies, since it owns the patent in question -- at the very least, it says, a "reasonable royalty."
According to GamePolitics, which first unearthed the suit, several of Ubisoft's Tom Clancy's games -- like EndWar, in which voice control played a significant role, are listed in the suit.
Games within Sony Computer Entertainment America's SoCom franchise and Electronic Arts' NASCAR 06 and 07 are also listed as infringing the apparent patent.
Finally, Disney's Phonics Quest is also listed in the lawsuit as infringing on the patent, which describes a means to control a disc player by voice command, and doesn't mention interactive entertainment specifically.
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That being said, software patents refer more to specific algorithms developed by the patent owner. As a software developer myself, I fully understand the need for those. For example, the iPhone got sued for infringing on patents for the touch-screen, the motion sensing gimbals, and a couple of other things. But they were all technology based on a patent that someone registered for something they designed and created.
Hopefully, this lawsuit gets thrown out, because it is ridiculous, but you shouldn't say that all software patents are a bad thing.
Also, Andre, just because you are buying it from someone doesn't mean they have the right to sell it. Ever been to NYC?