Nintendo was found guilty of patent infringement by using certain motion detection technologies in its Nintendo Wii gaming systems, a Texas jury declared on August 31. A team from Munck Wilson Mandala represented the plaintiff, iLife Technologies, a Dallas-based technology firm that develops vital sign monitors and other technology.
The firm has been retained by iLife for more than two decades including during the patent’s drafting and has been representing the company in this litigation since 2013. The jury found in favor of iLife, which sued Nintendo of America Inc., a subsidiary of Nintendo Co. Ltd., for infringement of U.S. Patent Number 6,864,796 covering motion-sensing technology incorporated into the Nintendo Wii and Wii U consoles. The firm told the jury in opening remarks that motion-controlled gaming in the Wii system was enabled by the ‘796 patent’s technology and led to Nintendo’s blockbuster success. The jury rejected Nintendo’s defense and agreed that Nintendo infringed the ‘796 patent. It awarded $10.1 million for the plaintiff.
“Our team combined technical know-how with expert trial and litigation skills to win this case. We could not be more pleased with the outcome,” said Munck partner Mike Wilson, who led the litigation team.
Additional firm attorneys included: managing partner William “Bill” Munck, partner Jamil Alibhai, head of the firm’s litigation practice, Wallace Dunwoody, Jacob LaCombe, Shain Khoshbin, Dan Venglarik, Aaron Dilbeck, and Jordan Strauss.
The case, iLife Technologies Inc. v. Nintendo of America Inc., was tried in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas before Chief Judge Barbara M.G. Lynn.