Nintendo Decision Final

Yesterday the Supreme Court refused to review the case of Alpex Computer Corporation vs. Nintendo, a suit that alleges Nintendo infringed on Alpex's patents on video game graphics. The refusal substantiates the appeals court ruling that Nintendo did not infringe upon Alpex's patents, which cover image generation technology. Alpex's original complaint was over the use of "bitmapping," which Alpex accused Nintendo of using in the Nintendo Entertainment System.

The suit was originally filed in 1986 and has gone on now for some eleven years with rulings being handed down by several courts. In fact, Alpex won twice early on - but Nintendo appealed the decision each time. Alpex has been bankrupt and out of business for some time.

Howard Lincoln, Nintendo of America's Chairman, said yesterday, "From the outset of this case, Nintendo was convinced that it did not infringe Alpex's patents. Today's decision once again vindicates Nintendo's position never to settle patent lawsuits when we firmly believe that we have not infringed another party's patent."