Remember the lawsuit from 2003 where both Sony and Microsoft were sued by Immersion.
Sony fought back and lost and had to cough up $90 million. Microsoft played it safe and paid $26 million but eventually got almost $21 million back in royalties which Immersion obtained from Sony.
Now it seems Performance Designed Products and SCEA are the next target in a lawsuit, who conspired against Craig Thorner who is said to be the patent holder.
Thorner held several patents relating to force feedback technology, which became central to Sony’s defense in its infamous legal action against Immersion. He claims that after Sony’s loss against Immersion he was contacted by Performance Designed Products, who were also involved in legal action with Immersion.
PDP licensed Thorner’s patents using the same attorneys representing Sony and Thorner now alleges that the two companies conspired to cheat him out of a more favorable deal. Thorner is suing PDP for legal malpractice and Sony for patent infringement.
