Strategy Informer  

An Ohio-based firm known as Impulse Technology is suing Microsoft, claiming that Microsft's Kinect is in violation of seven patents. The firm is suing not only Microsoft, but eight developers including EA, Sega, and Konami for their exercise games.

According to the suit, the infringements include "a wide variety of games where the movement of a player is tracked in three dimensions…and certain exercise games where the motion of the player is tracked to effect movement of a virtual avatar, and the exertion of the user is monitored, including where the tracking of the player is done by the use of a camera."

Impulse is seeking a permanent injunction, damages, treble damages, interest, attorneys’ fees and costs.

Considering the tech was not developed by Microsoft, but by PrimeSense Tech, it's a clear case of patent squatting, in which a company will file futuristic technology patents then try to extort a company into paying for the right to use it. Law film McKool Smith famously sued a range of hardware and software developers for 3D technology - not stereoscopic 3D, regular graphic 3D - back in 2004.

Source: Planet Xbox 360

Related games: Kinect (Xbox360), Kinect (PC)