Kind of funny this happened to one of the other companies *cough* SONY

[center][Microsoft Suing Immersion
The force feedback company's recent settlement with Sony has Bill Gates on its back.

June 19, 2007 - Sony and tactile feedback specialist Immersion have had a much-publicized battle over the DualShock controller, which violated Immersion's force feedback patent. The two companies kissed and made up in March, but the settlement has apparently sparked another lawsuit -- this time aimed at Immersion and coming from Microsoft.

Immersion had sued Microsoft along with Sony back in 2002 for the same patent infringement. But in 2003 the companies reached a settlement under which Microsoft agreed to pay Immersion $26 million to license its technology and buy a stake in the company. There was also a provision which said Immersion would pay Microsoft for certain licensing arrangements. Now Microsoft says Immersion is not honoring their agreement.

"We entered into a binding licensing agreement with Immersion and are seeking to have that agreement honored," Microsoft Associate General Counsel Steve Aeschbacher told News.com. "Microsoft licenses technology both in and out and relies on these agreements to be honored and enforced. Our request to the court is that all companies and industry partners should play by the same rules and that the binding agreement we signed with Immersion be honored."

Apparently, Immersion was to make a payment to Microsoft specifically if the technology company settled with Sony. A scan of Microsoft's lawsuit on seattlepi.com reads: "…if Immersion settles the Sony Lawsuit ... for an amount up to $100,000,000, Immersion shall pay Microsoft the sum of $15,000,000. If Immersion settles the Sony Lawsuit for an amount between $100,000,000 and $150,000,000, Immersion shall pay Microsoft an additional amount equal to 25% of the amount of the settlement in excess of $100,000,000. If Immersion settles the Sony Lawsuit for an amount in excess of $150,000,000, Immersion shall pay Microsoft an additional amount equal to 17.5% of the amount of the settlement in excess of $150,000,000."

Immersion has indeed "settled" with Sony, although there appears to be some confusion as to the exact meaning of the term. In the wording announcing the end of their dispute, Immersion and Sony do not use the word "settle," instead referring to the deal as a "business agreement."

In a recent financial statement, Immersion said it "has determined that the conclusion of its litigation with Sony Computer Entertainment does not trigger any payment obligations under its Microsoft agreements. However, in a letter sent to [Immersion] dated May 1, 2007, Microsoft disputed [Immersion's] position and stated that it believes [Immersion] owes Microsoft at least $27.5 million. If Microsoft brings a lawsuit to further dispute [Immersion's] position, [Immersion] intends to oppose Microsoft's claims and vigorously defend the Company's position."

As of this writing, neither Microsoft nor Immersion could be reached for comment.
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Hmmmm, i wonder what going to happen now, will the same fate come upon Microsoft, as it did for Sony.............. will there be no more rumble on the 360 controllers?

Your Thoughts?

thats the problem with some patents. there are douche bag companies out there who draw up something on paper and then say they own it, which I think is rediculous. The rumble feature is a spinning weight, there is nothing to be owned about that. It has been done in acient times with a rock on a freakin stick, however because of the atent:, some company can get a crayon, scribble on paper, copywrite the idea even if they cant make it possible, and say they own it. Its retarded. I hope microsoft destroys immersion, which is what seems to be happening, Microsoft is vicious, they will take your company out from under you and then dismantle it. Poof no more company. I hate them for killing Digital anvil, but I will love them for killing Immersion.

Whoa, Whoa, Whoa.................... they are guys responsible for killing Digital Anvil!

I heard somewhere, that was a great company

all this has to deal with is immersion not paying m$
m$ wont loose its rumble on its controllers. its not about that

Then whats it about?
And isnt immersion the one that put rumble features in microsofts controller?
And if thats the case, then what makes you think it wont loose the rumble in the controllers?

(Just asking, not trying to attack you in anyway............... idk, just curious!)

Yea, i agree this kid ontop, i mean doesnt immersion own the rumble features?

Yes but they would end up losing millions upon millions of pound/dollars

So it would just hurt there profits even more and at the end of a day all a ccompany wants is profit

Oh.... you right about that.......so they might as well not take it out the controller then!

Ubnless they would get an overall increase in profit somehow taking it out but I don't see anyway plausible for that to happen.

Yea, that seems pretty impossible.....and not so sure that microsoft couldnt a rumble of their own!
They could just take them out of business, run it by themselves!

If Microsoft want to 'take out' or buy out a company... it's their choice...


fact is they can. Money = Power.

I'm sure if you complain about it... hit men will come to have you murdered...sorry... 'informed' regarding the matter ^^ - lol

Don't mess with MS... they're a very powerful corporation... i'm sure if a couple of dead bodies were discovered in Bill Gates office nobody would dare say anything =).

Do you understand business
You can't just buy a company because you would ave to look at how much money it would make and how much you need tokeep it going
+ immersion might not want to sell
but heres an example lets say
MS has £300million to spare
It cost them £150 million to buy Immersion
It then costs them £50 Million to keep up with running costs e.g. electricity, paper, computer software, technolog, new equipment.
Then another £75million to pay for the staff
and after that there are still so many costs so it would mean MS loses money

Every man, woman and company have their price.


Mines £10,000 ^^... i think it's worth it... imagine all the stuff i could buy... just for one night ^^

Money makes the world go round bud. It's not physically correct... but it does have logic - money makes the trains run on time and new games consoles to be made =/

Did you not read the rest of the post
????

I guess he didnt!
IDK.

I did read his post... but...

seriously... £50 million to pay for a company in electricity?

How large do you think the company is?

is that a year or over it's life time?

Same goes for staff... it's way too much.