Patent Troll Ready to Sue World of Warcraft, Second Life

[imnot]

Spoiler

i really hate people like that, i hope he lose's even though i dont play and MMOG's.

 

[Physics Engine]

A little fact checking: patent was filed on November 12, 1996, a little late for 95.

The patent in question. [http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=6,219,045.PN.&OS=PN/6,219,045&RS=PN/6,219,045]

Well, that seals it...

Meridian 59 is an online computer role-playing game first published by the now defunct 3DO Company. First launched online in an early form on December 15, 1995 and released commercially on September 27, 1996 with a flat-rate monthly subscription, Meridian 59 is often credited as the first 3D graphical "massively multiplayer online game" or MMO. Meridian 59 is currently available free of charge and is being run by original creators Andrew Kirmse and Chris Kirmse.

source [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meridian_59]

The troll better go back to his bridge. There is no case. The BETA for Meridian 59 had over 12,000 people in it BEFORE this patent was even filed. The "3d" was DOOM like, but 3d nonetheless.

Though, I'll be honest and say that I have no idea how patent law works so my point may be moot.

 

[James Raynor]

You're going to get stomped in a legal battle.

 

[Wolfram23]

I browsed the patent someone provided the link for... it actually, surprisingly, seems somewhat legit. I mean he basically describes what an MMO does. The problem I have is that it's not anything very specific. It's not a specific design, it's more of an idea of how it might be implemented. If an MMO like WoW uses slightly different methods of, say, avatar counting or how many to show on a given client then they pretty much can get around the patent.