Level-5 respond to Sega's patent violation accusations

 

inazuma eleven

Japanese developer Level-5 have responded to Sega’s allegations that the Inazuma Eleven games that appear on the Nintendo DS violate two of Sega’s patents. Via an official statement made on their site, Level-5 state that the specific touch controls Sega are referring to were only featured in the very first Inazuma Eleven DS game which was released in 2008, a year before Sega received its first patent, and two years before the second.

Level-5 also stated that the type of controls Sega are highlighting has always been a basic mechanic found in a large host of other DS games by other developers and that “Sega’s lawsuit could restrict choices in gaming from here on out as well as hindering the growth of the game industry.” Level-5 plan to settle the dispute in court with Sega.

Level-5 make a good point, in my opinion, however it would be mighty foolish and irresponsible of Sega to make such a bold claim if they didn’t think they were correct. It will be interesting to see how this will unfold, but until then be sure to let us know what you think in the comments section below.

[Source: Kotaku via VG247]

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Michael Westgarth

Michael Westgarth is a freelance writer and geneticist for hire who has been writing about video games since 2011. Michael enjoys saving the world and building creeper-proof, vertical sheep farms. Follow him on Twitter @MegaWestgarth, Tumblr and Google+.

Readers Comments (2)

  1. You can’t blame Sega for defending what they see as theirs, but holy hell the patent system is flawed and not designed for the era we are living in.

    Hopefully this and the “rounded corners” debacle ends up bringing some light to the issue.

  2. Like many of Apple’s lawsuits, this is another incredibly stupid one. Imagine where the industry would be if every game had to use some new control scheme that nobody else had used, unless they would pay the originator the scheme.

    So stupid, shame on Sega.

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