Nintendo loses 3DS patent infringement lawsuit

A New York federal jury has found Nintendo guilty of infringing on an inventor's patent for glasses-free 3D technology with the 3DS.

The jury awarded inventor and former Sony veteran Seijiro Tomita $30.2 million (£20.2m) in compensatory damages, Reuters reports.

Tomita’s attorney, Joe Diamante, claimed in opening arguments last month that his client demoed a prototype of his technology to seven Nintendo officials back in 2003, and that four of those present went on to help develop 3DS.

But Nintendo's defence attorney Scott Lindvall claimed 3DS doesn't use key aspects of Tomita's patent including "cross-point" information, which helps display 3D images on different screens.

Diamante said of the jury’s verdict this week: "We are thankful to the jurors for their diligence and hard work. It has been an honour to represent Mr. Tomita and to protect his invention."

Nintendo retained a defiant stance in a statement issued to Kotaku, noting: “The Tomita patent did not relate to the 3D games playable on the Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo is confident that the result will be set aside. The jury's verdict will not impact Nintendo's continued sales in the United States of its highly acclaimed line of video game hardware, software and accessories, including the Nintendo 3DS. Nintendo has a long history of developing innovative products while respecting the intellectual property rights of others.”