Microsoft wants some of that money that Sony gave Immersion
by Colin Torretta 
{ Jun 20th 2007 at 6:00PM }
In one of the weirder twists in the Sony/Immersion saga, Microsoft has sued Immersion, claiming breach of contract over their settlement with Sony. According to the lawsuit, Microsoft is owed a certain amount of the money that Sony paid Immersion earlier this year to settle the long running force-feedback lawsuit. And not a small amount of money either, as explained by Immersion in their rebuttal to Microsoft's claims:"Immersion is obligated to pay Microsoft a minimum of $15.0 million for any amounts received from Sony up to $100.0 million, plus 25% of any amounts over $100.0 million up to $150.0 million, and 17.5% of any amounts over $150.0 million."
In addition, Microsoft also wants Immersion to pay a variety of other fees including damages and attorney fees. Immersion feels rather strongly that they shouldn't have to pay though and say they are willing to fight it, so it looks like they're going back to court. And considering it took them four years to finish the lawsuit with Sony, it doesn't bode well that this will be a quick trial. What's next? Nintendo sues Microsoft for suing Immersion over suing Sony?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
lenny0487 @ Jun 20th 2007 6:18PM
well theres a reason why sony didnt wanted to make a deal with immersion for rumble in the first place, cuase M$ wants the money thats thown into immersion
WTangoFoxtrot @ Jun 20th 2007 6:26PM
you've got to love corporate level soap operas :P
blitz @ Jun 20th 2007 6:36PM
its like school playground fights (the ones you dowhen you're like 5 years old), just with that big thing called "law"
Magma @ Jun 20th 2007 6:51PM
I'm actually glad MS is suing them. What the bastards get for suing Sony over something stupid.
Azorean @ Jun 20th 2007 7:04PM
Immersion is going to fight MS lawyers! lol, MS is going to end up owning Immersion by the time this lawsuit is over!
Chris1007 @ Jun 21st 2007 4:03AM
yeah by the time MS get done with this they'll own immersion and the rights too all controllers and we'll have to play our PS3s with a spoon and a stapler.
Andy @ Jun 20th 2007 7:32PM
Immersion is about to find out that getting sued isn't as fun as suing someone else.
In the end its the lawyers that win.
Consolcwby @ Jun 20th 2007 7:39PM
This is how the crash of '84 started... =/
This doesn't bode well for the industry - too much bullsh*t and not enough high quality games. Sigh...
Asher @ Jun 20th 2007 8:01PM
wow... I tried to do some homework on this suit and find out what's behind it. This just seems so crazy! Originally Immersion was suing both Microsoft and Sony. Microsoft settled for some $26million and Sony is still paying fees... are they up to 100million yet? This just seems so wrong.
...all this over a little spinning wieght.
and does any of this apply to Nintendo? they had a rumble pack. does the Wii have any rumble? not that I want anyone to sue Nintendo!
Can't you people just play nice and stop suing one another.
Dahk @ Jun 20th 2007 8:22PM
Well the wiimote on one hand has a nice vibrate, but the nunchuk doesn't - as commented on by folks on Fancast 004! =)
btw. facebook group = 330. IN ONE DAY.
You guys are awesome =)
Tom @ Jun 21st 2007 12:47AM
Somebody just needs to destroy this parasitic "Immersion" operation already. I don't see them making any games. Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo can all just come up with their own ways to rumble so that none of them infringes on the others' patents. That's probably easier said than done, but I'd rather see people taking the time to think outside the box instead of just throwing their wallets and lawyers at a problem.
Joey_Numbers @ Jun 21st 2007 4:16AM
say what!!!??
This make no sense.
miguelon918 @ Jun 21st 2007 6:20AM
What do you think that we called it Micro$$$$oft?
horseapples @ Jun 21st 2007 7:04AM
Oh, by 'we' you must mean retards, right?
ShadowHawk01 @ Jun 21st 2007 8:55AM
You do realize that Microsoft owns around 20% stock in Immersion right.
This case is a breach of contract. Immersion is in breach of the original contract between them and Microsoft that was created after the last case.
Pete @ Jun 22nd 2007 6:03AM
It almost seems as if Microsoft owns Immersion.
Follow me here... Immersion sues Sony for some ungodly amount. They also "sue" Microsoft who just settles out of court for petty change. Immersion (some no-name company) defeats Sony and gets that ungodly amount out of Sony's pocket. Microsoft is now "suing" Immersion for the money it made. Very mafioso/Stewie Griffin "where's my money!?"
I know this is sort of a stretch, but it damn near doesn't seem like it. Had anyone heard of immersion before this? It was probably created by Microsoft for times like this ("In case of successful idea utilized by another company, break glass" type of thing).