Microsoft sues Immersion following Sony settlement

Microsoft has filed a lawsuit against Immersion, the makers of force-feedback technology used in numerous game controllers. The issue stems back to a suit filed by Immersion in 2002, which accused both Microsoft and Sony of infringing patents; Microsoft settled for $26 million in 2003, but the Sony suit carried on, until the company agreed to a settlement with Immersion earlier this year.

Microsoft alleges that under a sublicense agreement, it is owed part of the restitution: $15 million for the first $100 million from Sony, plus 25 percent between the $100 and $150 million marks, and 17.5 percent of anything over $150 million. Immersion denies that it owes anything to Microsoft, and says that it intends to fight the lawsuit, which was filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington.