Wii Fit U

Nintendo struck gold with the Wii, combining inexpensive technology with a motion controlled gaming hook that tens of millions of gamers found irresistible. That use of technology and the ludicrous profits it made naturally got the attention of other companies, however, with the home console and its accessories fighting a number of patent battles.

Nintendo may not have won them all, but it certainly has a strong record. The company has now announced that it has seen off a challenge to the Wii Balance Board technology - Ithaca Ventures and Ithaca Development launched a case and Nintendo countered by "seeking sanctions for filing a meritless case" - we like to picture a cartoon scene of two teams of lawyers jumping into a ball of dust, with arms, legs and iPads occasionally appearing as the battle rages.

Subscribe to Nintendo Life on YouTube787k
Watch on YouTube

In this case Ithaca lost a case in Germany and had to pay Nintendo's fees, prompting it to drop its equivalent claim in a Seattle court. Nintendo's press release has a variation on the usual statement from Nintendo of America's Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, Richard Medway.

Nintendo will vigorously defend its innovations against patent lawsuits, and will not pay to resolve meritless accusations, no matter whether the case is filed in the United States or elsewhere.

Now we just need to find our Balance Board to celebrate, last seen in January 2009...