Activision and IBM Protest Potential Xbox Ban

[John Funk]

Activision and IBM Protest Potential Xbox Ban

If the Xbox were banned, who would play COD?

Mega-publisher Activision-Blizzard and computer hardware manufacturer IBM are the most recent groups to throw their weight behind Microsoft in its patent infringement suit with Motorola. In April, US international trade judge David Shaw ruled against Microsoft [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/116914-Court-Rules-Against-Xbox-in-Motorola-Patent-Suit] and recommended an order of exclusion be filed against the infringing Xbox 360 console, which would effectively ban it from being imported to American shores.

Unsurprisingly, parties like the Entertainment Software Association [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/117846-ESA-Weighs-In-On-Possible-Xbox-360-Ban] don't want the Xbox 360 banned. Neither does Activision, who issued a statement supporting the ESA's support. As "one of the United States' largest video game publishers," writes Activision, the company "has expended and continues to expend significant resources to develop video games and accessories specially adapted to operate on Microsoft's Xbox gaming console."

In other words, Activision has poured a lot of money into nurturing the Call of Duty Xbox Live fanbase, and it understandably wants to see a return on its investment.

Also opposing the Xbox ban was IBM, the company which "holds more U.S. patents than any other," and who recently sold over 2,000 of those patents to Motorola's parent company Google. Noting that the extent of Motorola's investment in the videogame industry is all via licensing and that Motorola "does not manufacture a product that competes with the Xbox 360," it called the phone maker out for seeking to profit from its refusal to meet Microsoft at the negotiation table.

A similar ban currently in legal limbo [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/117047-Germany-Bans-the-Xbox-360].

Source: Fosspatents [http://www.fosspatents.com/2012/06/ibm-activision-blizzard-latest.html]

Permalink

 

[IWCAS]

Wait what? Xbox ban?
Does Motorola (Google, whatever. I didn't even know that) own some hardware in the Xbox or something? I read the entire article 3 times and I don't really get why this isn't a bigger deal. I must be missing something...

 

[ChildishLegacy]

In other words, Activision has poured a lot of money into nurturing the Call of Duty Xbox Live fanbase, and it understandably wants to see a return on its investment.

Nurtured it? If they've been nurturing that particular community of players I don't want to see what they're like when they're neglected.
As far as I'm aware, treyarch have only ever released balance patches for CoD in black ops, and the Modern Warfares have never seen a balance patch. I sincerely disagree that they have put any effort into "nurturing" their community, I think what they mean by nurturing is "we have them hooked, we want to sell them more annual iterations"

 

[Waaghpowa]

Of course Activision would protest the Xbox ban. The Xbox has the most children and frat boy douche bags, which happens to be the largest part of their player base. (Obvious Joke)

 

[Dryk]

How come every. single. time. someone protests this it's about how Microsoft are too rich to be subject to such petty things as patent law?

 

[darthzew]

There has got to be some kind of compromise here. The law definitely should apply to Microsoft and the Xbox, but since Motorola is the one with the complaint, shouldn't there be a way to appease them that would not involve outright banning the console? Banning the Xbox 360 from the United States would be bad news for everyone.

There has got to be some kind of settlement that can be reached.

Captcha: ticked off. No, I'm not.

 

[ThePS1Fan]

Wait what? Xbox ban?
Does Motorola (Google, whatever. I didn't even know that) own some hardware in the Xbox or something? I read the entire article 3 times and I don't really get why this isn't a bigger deal. I must be missing something...

I believe Motorola holds a patent on some software that the Xbox uses, or something like that. This whole thing is just a bunch of patent trolling

 

[IWCAS]

Wait what? Xbox ban?
Does Motorola (Google, whatever. I didn't even know that) own some hardware in the Xbox or something? I read the entire article 3 times and I don't really get why this isn't a bigger deal. I must be missing something...

I believe Motorola holds a patent on some software that the Xbox uses, or something like that. This whole thing is just a bunch of patent trolling

Man I hope that's all it is...

Really this whole thing should be a lot scarier than what it is now. If this is serious, us gamers need to do everything we can to support Microsoft. I'm a PS3 owner even. This is not cool; I can't stand the thought of these douches ruining the most successful online gaming community out there.

 

[FoolKiller]

Hmm... so the big companies are supporting Microsoft for pirating software. That's bloody brilliant.

I get why it would be bad for more people than Microsoft, but they should be heavily penalized. I would force them to pay a crazy fee like $25 dollars per license retroactively. Which for 70 million consoles would do quite a bit of justice in my opinion.

Its much less than the fee a person would have if they pirated something.

 

[Lunar Templar]

i honestly can't muster enough ... anything ... to care if the Xbox gets banned or not, i'd even more hard pressed to care if an Xbox ban means 'losing CoD' as well.

kind of a 'and nothing of value was lost' thing for me

 

[Hunter65416]

If it did go through..Do you think it'd force them to release the next console a bit faster

 

[WeAreJimbo]

Wait what? Xbox ban?
Does Motorola (Google, whatever. I didn't even know that) own some hardware in the Xbox or something? I read the entire article 3 times and I don't really get why this isn't a bigger deal. I must be missing something...

I believe Motorola holds a patent on some software that the Xbox uses, or something like that. This whole thing is just a bunch of patent trolling

Man I hope that's all it is...

Really this whole thing should be a lot scarier than what it is now. If this is serious, us gamers need to do everything we can to support Microsoft. I'm a PS3 owner even. This is not cool; I can't stand the thought of these douches ruining the most successful online gaming community out there.

if you read the article here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoftpri0/2018119178_german_judge_rules_against_microsoft_in_patent_fig.html
it basically says that they cannot agree how much Microsoft should pay Motorola for use of the licensed technology in the Xbox 360. Motorola want 2.25% of the revenue from each Xbox 360 sold and Microsoft say this is too much and so have paid nothing. I believe if they could come to some sort of agreement on how much Microsoft pay then a ban can be avoided. This was all triggered originally by Microsoft suing Motorola for patent infringement on some of its Android devices so Motorola did a tit for tat. However, an agreement was reached on the Android issue, leaving this one still active.

The fact that a ban has been authorised suggests that Microsoft are in breach in this case. As a gamer I do not want to see a ban on the Xbox but as a businessman I think there has to be something done to bring Microsoft in line and pay what they owe. It is not good for anyone if they can be seen to screw over other companies like this.

 

[VoidWanderer]

I want the XBOX to get banned.

Not because I dont like it. I have one.

But because the sweaty nerd riots of 2012 would be hilarious to watch from the UK.

Until the guns get given out. Then they'd get to experience a real FPS.

 

[IWCAS]

Wait what? Xbox ban?
Does Motorola (Google, whatever. I didn't even know that) own some hardware in the Xbox or something? I read the entire article 3 times and I don't really get why this isn't a bigger deal. I must be missing something...

I believe Motorola holds a patent on some software that the Xbox uses, or something like that. This whole thing is just a bunch of patent trolling

Man I hope that's all it is...

Really this whole thing should be a lot scarier than what it is now. If this is serious, us gamers need to do everything we can to support Microsoft. I'm a PS3 owner even. This is not cool; I can't stand the thought of these douches ruining the most successful online gaming community out there.

if you read the article here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoftpri0/2018119178_german_judge_rules_against_microsoft_in_patent_fig.html
it basically says that they cannot agree how much Microsoft should pay Motorola for use of the licensed technology in the Xbox 360. Motorola want 2.25% of the revenue from each Xbox 360 sold and Microsoft say this is too much and so have paid nothing. I believe if they could come to some sort of agreement on how much Microsoft pay then a ban can be avoided. This was all triggered originally by Microsoft suing Motorola for patent infringement on some of its Android devices so Motorola did a tit for tat. However, an agreement was reached on the Android issue, leaving this one still active.

The fact that a ban has been authorised suggests that Microsoft are in breach in this case. As a gamer I do not want to see a ban on the Xbox but as a businessman I think there has to be something done to bring Microsoft in line and pay what they owe. It is not good for anyone if they can be seen to screw over other companies like this.

Okay, what you just said here is a more informative article than the one here. You're right. It's classic Micro$oft behavior, and they need to reach an agreement. The Xbox wouldn't be as big as it is now if it weren't for Motorola's technology. Pay up guys.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Akisa]

Maybe the ban will speed up the release of the Nextbox which is needed. If it was like original xbox and rushed then it would be replaced with a proper installment like the 360 was.