Minecraft developer sued by Uniloc over patent infringement
updated 01:24 pm EDT, Sat July 21, 2012
Notch vows to make sure 'they don't get a cent'
Minecraft developer Mojang is being sued by Uniloc over alleged patent infringement. According to Uniloc, patent number 6,857,067 for a "System and method for preventing unauthorized access to electronic data" is being used by Mojang for its Android port of the game, and is seeking damages by way of a jury trial in Texas. Mojang lead Markus Persson, also known as Notch, has tweeted that he will "throw piles of money at [them] making sure they don't get a cent."
Uniloc previously sued Microsoft in a similar case, which saw the software giant settle for an amount rumored to be in excess of $100 million in March this year, after a legal battle that first began in 2003. The same patent was referenced in the case, which relies on a "portable licensing medium configured to communicate with the electronic device for storing license data" communicating with a "Registration Authority" to confirm ownership.
In his tweets saying he was being sued by Uniloc over the misnamed "Mindcraft," Notch expressed his dislike of software patents, claiming them as "plain evil." Continuing, he said "Innovation within software is basically free, and it's growing incredibly rapid. Patents only slow it down."
Other popular game developers are also named in the suit. Fruit Ninja and Jetpack Joyride developer Halfbrick, Gameloft, Square Enix, and giant Electronic Arts are also named in the East Texas District Court suit.
