Back in February 2021 we wrote an article about how Ironburg Inventions (a subsidiary of Corsair Gaming) were suing Valve for the Steam Controller and Valve has now firmly lost the case. As a brief reminder to save clicking around: Ironburg hold a patent on a controller with two buttons on the back, they sued Valve since the Steam Controller has back paddles.
In the new ruling that can be seen here, Judge Thomas S. Zilly has denied Valve's attempt to have a new trial and overturn the initial jury decision of $4,029,533.93 in damages. Overall it didn't go too well with Valve's defence stating how it was "about as straightforward a patent case as you could ever hope to get" and that the jury would have "no trouble making the right decision at the end of this case" based on the Steam Controller and the Patent. Zilly mentioned "The Court agrees that this case is straightforward and can be decided on the ’525 Patent and the accused device. The jury appears to have done exactly that, but defendant does not like the result the jury reached. Defendant’s dissatisfaction does not constitute grounds for judgment as a matter of law or a new trial." — ouch.
Not ideal for Valve, however, the judge also decided that Valve's infringement wasn't enough to award enhanced damages which could have been a real disaster. For Valve though, is four million dollars a lot? They print money thanks to Steam, so not likely. Since Valve no longer produce the Steam Controller, cutting their losses here is probably a good idea.
As it turns out, the previous hints of a new Steam Controller that might have come with four back-buttons appears to not be happening either. In the court documents we can see developers from Valve clearly mention the four-button approach did not survive their original iterative design process after many tests. Shame. I absolutely loved the Steam Controller, so a new version that got around the patent issues with a tweaked design would have been ideal. Well, at least we shall have the upcoming SteamPal console perhaps.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Shame that I'll never have a chance to even hold one in my hands. I don't know the details, is Valve really copied some patent protected project, or this is one of those "patent trolls" that worked in this case?There isn't copying with patents: it just isn't a factor. A patent is saying "this person invented this thing and gets first dibs" even if someone else invents the same thing later. The trade off for getting first dibs is that you need to document exactly how it works (rather than keeping it secret) so that everyone else can use it once the first dibs period finishes.
That's the idea, anyway.
Last edited by CatKiller on 1 June 2021 at 5:21 pm UTC
On the other hand, one could wonder if the patent was legitimate in the first place. If you can find prior art, that invalidates it, for instance.
Here (France), there are a few conditions before submitting a pattent, if any is found to be unfullfilled, the patent is invalidated:
* It's a new thing (no prior art)
* It has industrial use (can be manufactured or used in the industry)
* It's actually an inventive and original thing. It must not be obvious to someone working in the field.
I'm a bit circumspect regarding the last one. Maybe that condition just isn't there in the U.S? It might be hard to prove in any case.
Patent US8641525B2 was filled in 2011, so it will expire in 2031. However, if anyone finds prior art, the patent can be invalidated. I'm not sure what constitutes prior art, as the pattent is quite narrow, but surely there were controllers that used the other fingers at some point in the past?
Edit: found that brand, though it seems to match the date quite closely, so it might actually be the same guys.
Last edited by MayeulC on 1 June 2021 at 5:51 pm UTC
Mohandevir Jun 1, 2021
Last edited by Mohandevir on 1 June 2021 at 6:30 pm UTC
Mohandevir Jun 1, 2021
What is specified in the pattent?
It's specifically having paddles on the back of a standard controller. The patent is here, for those that are interested.
Yep... Had a look... Just moving my answer here:
Ironburg Inventions didn't create back buttons, they just adapted something that was already used elsewhere. The pattent is giving way to much importance to the container instead of the content. Oh well... Pattents...
Ironburg Inventions didn't create back buttons, they just adapted something that was already used elsewhere.
Well, to be fair, an innovative arrangement of existing things is legit patent material, and Valve did try using buttons rather than paddles and found that it wasn't as good.
Oh well... Pattents...Yep.
Luke_Nukem Jun 1, 2021
But it has only become clear to me why Valve is diligently applying for patents. :)
It's annoying, but I suspect Valve won't go bust because of it.
Last edited by 1xok on 1 June 2021 at 7:20 pm UTC
acejavelin Jun 1, 2021
Mohandevir Jun 1, 2021
Luke_Nukem Jun 1, 2021
Geez. I know with absolute certainty that a decade or so ago I had a controller with back buttons like this. No idea if I've still got it, might look for it. Something like a gioteck maybe?
The patent is from 2011. Geez.
Well geez. Sorry my sense of time is skewed, I'm old. I was at least 12 years or more, and not Corsair or Ironburg Inventions branded afaik unless the company that made it was bought.
slaapliedje Jun 2, 2021
Yeah, this is a horse shit patent. Joysticks / controllers have had buttons on the back / bottom, all over the place for years.Geez. I know with absolute certainty that a decade or so ago I had a controller with back buttons like this. No idea if I've still got it, might look for it. Something like a gioteck maybe?
The patent is from 2011. Geez.
Well geez. Sorry my sense of time is skewed, I'm old. I was at least 12 years or more, and not Corsair or Ironburg Inventions branded afaik unless the company that made it was bought.
It's a shame you can have a patent on something so minor (in my opinion), but the current patent system works like this...
Do you paladins really think Valve owns no patents?
Patent portfolios are a sad norm in the modern industry. It's what you do with them that makes the difference.
They are the nuclear deterrent equivalent of business, a "lawsuit weapon" arsenal that can be used both for offence and defense. I.e.: if you lawsuit me for your patent I counterlawsuit you with mines ensuring mutual destruction.
And then there are trolls. Who do what your average troll would do with a nuclear weapon. Use it to blackmail people and get some cash.
Last edited by Mal on 2 June 2021 at 9:21 pm UTC
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