I poked a little fun at this controller back in April, when I insinuated that it looked a bit like a portable vibrator (hot pink FTW). Nintendo were significantly less amused by the offering, apparently, as they have filed a lawsuit against Nyko for the product, marking the first time Nintendo has sued over a Wii accessory.
As to the bone Nintendo has to pick, they state that the Kama completely rips off the original nunchuk, down to color, material, shape and design, infringing on their intellectual property rights. Nyko disagrees, and spokesman CC Swiney stated to the press:
We have not knowingly violated anyone's intellectual property and we're still examining this.
Nintendo has asked Nyko to stop selling the controller and is requesting cash compensation. Because, you know, they're really hurting for money these days. Or, maybe they are, actually -- they were just ordered to pay $21 million to East Texas gaming company Anascape for copyright infringement charges.
Nintendo's been in their share of lawsuits, dating all the way back to 1983 (the best involving a spoon-bending psychic -- you really should go read that). What are your thoughts on this one -- solid accusation, or much ado about nothing?
[Via Trev's c-blog and GamesIndustry.Biz -- Thanks, Justin]
Contest:
2:24 PM on 06.13.2008 | 
My girlfriend is going to be pissed.
What I really want to say is I'm really digging all the changes that have been made to the site recently. Especially the way the picture in the upper left isn't always Mr. Destructoid anymore. Like if you click to the cblogs you'll see a random community picture. As much as I'll miss Mr. D, that's awesome. Keep up the great work guys.h
Are these wireless controllers even any good? Nyko isn't exactly known for quality copies. I guess Nintendo is afraid of being sued by some mouth-breather who buys this thinking it was made by them and then it falls apart in their hands.
good stuff.
As for Anascape, Googling them only mentions numerous articles about them suing Microsoft and Nintendo. And this article basically confirms that the only reason that company has for existing is to sue corporations over patents that Anascape has no intention of ever doing anything with. What a bunch of a-holes.
I guess the moral of the story is that patent laws are in dire need of an overhaul.