Nintendo 3DS commits patent infringement, lawsuit incoming!

The Nintendo 3DS has turned out to be a fantastic little gadget, with a specs-free 3D screen that really does work. Unfortunately, it looks like Nintendo could be in a bit of trouble, with Tomita Technologies claiming that Nintendo has copied its design.

The Nintendo 3DS stands out among 3D gadgets, being one of a few that doesn’t need 3D glasses to show three dimensional images. It works really well, and literally adds an extra dimension to games, but it seems like Nintendo has stepped on another company’s toes when developing the 3DS.
Tomita Technologies has taken out a lawsuit against Nintendo for patent infringement, after creating a patent in 2003 for “Stereoscopic Image Picking Up and Display System Based Upon Optical Axes Cross-Point Information”.

The patent also points out how the technology could be used for a specs-free device (like the Nintendo 3DS!) with images directed independently at each of the user’s eyes, and the merged images creating one proper 3D image.

At present, Nintendo has refrained from commenting, but we hope any legal outcome won’t have an impact on the price of future Nintendo 3DS’.