Anascape

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Anascape Ltd. is a Texas-based computer firm specializing in analog-related technology.[1] According to the Dun & Bradstreet database, it is located at "15487 Joseph Rd Tyler, TX."[2] All of Anascape's patents, however, are registed to "Brad Armstrong" of Carson City, Nevada. [3] The companies slogan is "Anascape - The Analog Landscape of the Future!!!"[1]

Anascape is primarily notable for its pursuit of legal action against Nintendo and Microsoft in August 2006. Anascape, a client of McKool Smith, alleges that Nintendo and Microsoft are in breach of no less than twelve of its videogames controller patents [4]. Neither Microsoft nor Nintendo has said anything in their defense yet.

It is perhaps surprising to note that Sony's videogame system Playstation 2 is not listed in the lawsuit, even though their controllers appears to have broken the same patents. Since the patent holder and his lawyers have not commented on the issue it is unclear why Sony - currently the largest in the console market - has been left out of the law suit. However, on Anascape's archived website, they quote a review of the Playstation's analog technology as if it were a testimony of their own product - as such, one could suppose the Playstation has permission.[1]

Besides the patents it claims, little else is known about Anascape. Since the first patent was filed less than ten years ago, some have speculated that the company is simply a "patent squatter." In addition, IGN and other sources have accused the patents of being "fairly vague;" if this is also the opinion of the court, the patents will be invalidated.[5]

Anascape's official website no longer exists, but several records of it exist on the Wayback Machine.[1]


[edit] Patents infringed

The patents are licensed by Anascape Ltd. and were invented by Brad Armstrong.

Anascape has accused Microsoft Corp. (Microsoft) of infringing/and or still infringing on the patents listed:

Patent # Title
5,999,084 "Variable-conductance sensor"
6,102,802 "Game controller with analog pressure sensor(s)"
6,135,886 "Variable-conductance sensor with elastomeric dome-cap"
6,208,271 "Remote controller with analog button(s)"
6,344,791 "Variable sensor with tactile feedback"
6,347,997 "Analog controls housed with electronic displays"
6,351,205 "Variable-conductance sensor"
6,400,303 "Remote controller with analog pressure sensor(s)"
6,563,415 "Analog sensor(s) with snap-through tactile feedback"
6,906,700 "3D controller with vibration"
6,343,991 "Game control with analog pressure sensor"


While Nintendo Co. Ltd. (Nintendo) has been accused of infringing/and or still infringing on the patents listed:

Patent # Title
6,222,525 "Image controllers with sheet connected sensors"
6,344,791 "Variable sensor with tactile feedback"
6,351,205 "Variable-conductance sensor"
6,563,415 "Analog sensor(s) with snap-through tactile feedback"
6,906,700 "3D controller with vibration"

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Anascape.com 2002 archive.
  2. ^ DNB entry for Anascape
  3. ^ Brad Armstrong @ Yahoo People Search
  4. ^ IGN article.
  5. ^ US Patent Office


[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../a/n/a/Anascape.html"