Philips and Nintendo sign a license deal to use each other’s patents

Philips and Nintendo say they have resolved all mutual patent issues. In addition, the two companies have entered into a worldwide patent agreement. Philips had previously filed patent cases in four countries against alleged patent infringements by Nintendo.

With the agreement, Philips promises to immediately stop all patent cases it started against Nintendo. The two companies will also receive licenses for each other’s patents as a result of the patent deal. It is not clear whether Nintendo has paid a fee to Philips.

Nintendo allegedly infringed two Philips patents. A patent describes the registration of player movements and then processing them in a game. Another patent relates to displaying a user interface based on a device similar to the Wii Remote.

Philips had pending patent cases in Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the United States. According to the electronics manufacturer, Nintendo had infringed several Philips patents with the Wii and Wii U consoles, and its DS handheld. In June Philips won a patent case against Nintendo in the United Kingdom.