Microsoft's patents keeping PS3 behind

[jubeininja69]

Interesting. Apparently microsoft have patented in game custom soundtracks, invites from the friend list, and joining a game in progress.

http://www.n4g.com/News-129747.aspx

Online game invitations using friends list (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.htm&r=23&f=G&l=50&d=PTXT&p=1&p=1&S1=xbox&OS=xbox&RS=xbox)

Method and apparatus for creating and playing soundtracks in a gaming system (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F6981918)


(patent links from Neogaf)

the ps3 could really use all of these features. I'm sure sony can work around these patents and deliver similar features or better yet completely new ones for PSN.

[mickice]

SONY will work out something ^_^

Just so you know, online game invitations from a friends list has been done for quite a file now on the PSP game Killzone: Liberation.

[snooper71]

There are ways around those patents. IE SONY could use a 2 layer system wich would basically mean that instead of loading the custom soundtrack straight from the game menu, you load up in-game XMB and from there load your soundtrack. There must be other ways to get around that as well.

[Phaded]

What?... Microsoft have patented somebody inviting a friend to play an online game with them?.... what?.

Not only that but i don't like custom soundtracks that much, i can just use my pc for that. Wasn't even included in IV.

[BioSonic]

Or they just split the application to be 2 different applications, one organizes the music, the other plays it. seriously, those patents have loads of loopholes.

[Undead_Elvis]

More bull**** patent applications designed to stifle competition. Why do the judges keep granting them to the big corps that have lots of money to throw around...oh wait...

[A-D-L]

I really hope Sony kills them with a better worked out route.

Microsoft. I'm really beginning to hate them.

Anyway, didn't the PC gaming market have all of this way before even the Xbox was released?

[Yip-Man]

Patents are very intersting things, if MS have stated "invites from the friend list", this is indeed patented, but if you have invites form buddy list then that not covered by the patent. it all depends how ms have actually eorded the patent.

for instance, if you patent a skipping rope saying platisic hands and cord rope, some can make one with wood handles and cord rope and its not infringing the patent...

but if the patent for skipping rope says handles made from suitable material and rope from suitable material then it would be infringment.

so its all in the wording whether they can get round it !

[faaeng]

Interesting. Apparently microsoft have patented in game custom soundtracks, invites from the friend list, and joining a game in progress.

http://www.n4g.com/News-129747.aspx

Online game invitations using friends list (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.htm&r=23&f=G&l=50&d=PTXT&p=1&p=1&S1=xbox&OS=xbox&RS=xbox)

Method and apparatus for creating and playing soundtracks in a gaming system (http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect2=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-bool.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&d=PALL&RefSrch=yes&Query=PN%2F6981918)


(patent links from Neogaf)

the ps3 could really use all of these features. I'm sure sony can work around these patents and deliver similar features or better yet completely new ones for PSN.

Uhh how old are these patents? So could MS sue Zipper because you were able to join ongoing online games in S3 by clicking a name in your buddy list......

On top of that, some PSN games already have ingame custom soundtracks so.....

I dunno. This is all BS.....I mean MS....I mean..... ahh its all the same in the end....... XD

[RoadToRuin]

Hehehe, this was an april fools joke mate!
You can't patent something like in game custom soundtracks anyway, the description is just too vague.
So yeah don't worry the article was a joke.

[rikwakefield]

Hehehe, this was an april fools joke mate!
You can't patent something like in game custom soundtracks anyway, the description is just too vague.
So yeah don't worry the article was a joke.
No it's not. Microsoft really do have the patents. Look it up on the patents register if you don't believe.

Anyway, this has been discussed before.

Closed.

[Stoffinator]

I doubt you could simply patent something as simple as that. If would have to be something more specific I would imagine. Its like patenting a engine for a car.