Nintendo of America Achieves Major Legal Victory in Secure Axcess Patent Lawsuit
Nintendo of America has successfully defended itself in a significant patent lawsuit brought by Secure Axcess, marking another legal triumph for the Japanese gaming giant.
The legal dispute centered on alleged patent infringement claims tied to several of Nintendo’s portable gaming consoles, including the Nintendo 3DS XL, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DSi, and Nintendo DS. The case, which began in January 2013 when Secure Axcess filed suit against Nintendo and 11 associated retailers in a Texas court, was ultimately moved to the U.S.
District Court for the Western District of Washington.
On August 4, 2022, District Judge Ricardo Martinez issued a decisive ruling in Nintendo’s favor, siding with the company on all ten contested aspects of Secure Axcess’s patent claims.
As a result, Secure Axcess acknowledged that none of the aforementioned Nintendo handheld systems infringed upon the disputed patent, leading to the dismissal of the case. Secure Axcess, known as a patent assertion entity, has a history of litigation targeted at technology providers, but this case adds to its list of unsuccessful actions against longstanding industry leaders.
The Western District of Washington’s decision follows procedural rules that thoroughly examined the context and technical details of each questioned patent area, ultimately clearing Nintendo of any infringement. Devon Pritchard, general counsel and senior vice president of business affairs for Nintendo of America, expressed satisfaction at the outcome.
"Nintendo is very pleased with the rulings and the overall result," Pritchard stated through official company channels.
"We remain committed to vigorously defending our innovative products in the face of patent litigation." This ruling comes on the heels of a separate legal victory for Nintendo of America in a patent suit filed by Quintal Research Group.
The back-to-back courtroom successes reinforce Nintendo's reputation for resilience in defending its hardware innovations and intellectual property from claims that might threaten its product line or retailer partners. Nintendo’s hardware platforms, particularly the 3DS family, have played a pivotal role in the company’s global success, selling over 75 million units since the system’s first release in 2011.
Removing lingering legal uncertainties further cements retailer and consumer confidence in Nintendo’s brands and its ongoing software and accessory ecosystem, including major releases and ongoing support via the Nintendo eShop. The outcome of the Secure Axcess case underscores Nintendo of America’s robust legal strategy and commitment to protecting its advances in handheld gaming, ensuring uninterrupted focus on developing and delivering compelling experiences to gamers worldwide.
The legal dispute centered on alleged patent infringement claims tied to several of Nintendo’s portable gaming consoles, including the Nintendo 3DS XL, Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DSi, and Nintendo DS. The case, which began in January 2013 when Secure Axcess filed suit against Nintendo and 11 associated retailers in a Texas court, was ultimately moved to the U.S.
District Court for the Western District of Washington.
On August 4, 2022, District Judge Ricardo Martinez issued a decisive ruling in Nintendo’s favor, siding with the company on all ten contested aspects of Secure Axcess’s patent claims.
As a result, Secure Axcess acknowledged that none of the aforementioned Nintendo handheld systems infringed upon the disputed patent, leading to the dismissal of the case. Secure Axcess, known as a patent assertion entity, has a history of litigation targeted at technology providers, but this case adds to its list of unsuccessful actions against longstanding industry leaders.
The Western District of Washington’s decision follows procedural rules that thoroughly examined the context and technical details of each questioned patent area, ultimately clearing Nintendo of any infringement. Devon Pritchard, general counsel and senior vice president of business affairs for Nintendo of America, expressed satisfaction at the outcome.
"Nintendo is very pleased with the rulings and the overall result," Pritchard stated through official company channels.
"We remain committed to vigorously defending our innovative products in the face of patent litigation." This ruling comes on the heels of a separate legal victory for Nintendo of America in a patent suit filed by Quintal Research Group.
The back-to-back courtroom successes reinforce Nintendo's reputation for resilience in defending its hardware innovations and intellectual property from claims that might threaten its product line or retailer partners. Nintendo’s hardware platforms, particularly the 3DS family, have played a pivotal role in the company’s global success, selling over 75 million units since the system’s first release in 2011.
Removing lingering legal uncertainties further cements retailer and consumer confidence in Nintendo’s brands and its ongoing software and accessory ecosystem, including major releases and ongoing support via the Nintendo eShop. The outcome of the Secure Axcess case underscores Nintendo of America’s robust legal strategy and commitment to protecting its advances in handheld gaming, ensuring uninterrupted focus on developing and delivering compelling experiences to gamers worldwide.
