Nintendo Accused of Patent Infringement Over Switch Joy-Con Design

Forgoing the legal system, Gamevice took their case to the USITC this time, citing the Tariff Act of 1930 as a prohibitive measure against the import of Switch consoles and Joy-Cons. The company also requested a cease and desist order against Nintendo for violations of its patents for “controller systems with parts that attach to two sides of an electronic device.”

While an investigation is never something anyone wants to face, Gamevice’s line of detachable controllers and Nintendo’s Joy-Cons do exhibit some key differences that factored into the failure of Gamevice’s previous legal claim. While Gamevice’s detachable controllers are made for use with an assortment of mobile phones and tablets, Nintendo’s Joy-Con is specifically designed for use with the Switch console, include additional features, such as HD rumble and infrared sensors, and are capable of operating while detached from the console itself. The only real similarity is that both sets of controllers attach by sliding them down from the top on either side of the applicable device.

The USITC also stated in the filing that an investigation doesn’t necessarily mean there is any wrongdoing to be found. The case will next go to a USITC administrative law judge for an evidentiary hearing. If the investigation and rulings do swing Gamevice’s way, U.S. Switch imports would likely be frozen.

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