Nintendo being sued for 3D patent infringement

Inventor Seijiro Tomita, a former Sony Corp employee, is suing Nintendo Co. for its use of 3D technology for Nintendo 3DS, Reuters reports.

According to Tomita, he developed the technology for 3D images without the use of 3D glasses, which the 3DS is apparently uses. Tomita's technology received patent in the United States in 2008, with a corresponding patent in Japan. According to his lawyer, Tomita is owed around $9.80 for every piece of hardware sold.

Scott Lindvall, who acts as an attorney for the Super Mario Bros. franchise creator, says that Nintendo's product is missing key components of Tomita's patent. The "cross-point" information, for example, a function that displays the 3D images on different screens, is not part of its design.

Tomita reportedly demoed a prototype of the 3D technology to Nintendo in 2003, when the patent was still pending. According to Lindvall, Nintendo held meetings with several vendors, and Tomita's meeting "was one of hundreds."

The trial, which began on Feb. 25, is before U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff. Tomita is seeking damages.