Microsoft, Datel Settle Lawsuits

Microsoft and Datel have decided that it would be in both companies' best interests to settle their Xbox 360-related lawsuits against each other. The two companies have been locked in a legal battle since 2009, when Datel accused Microsoft of engaging in "predatory conduct" after an Xbox 360 update rendered all unauthorized storage devices and third-party memory cards unusable. Datel's Max Memory line of cards were among the devices affected by the update.

The UK-based peripheral and accessory maker filed an antitrust lawsuit in a San Francisco court that same year, claiming in its court filings Microsoft had "deliberately harmed competition" with the change. The company also claimed that Microsoft implemented the update with "no visible purpose other than to have that market entirely to themselves."

Microsoft filed its own lawsuit against Datel in 2010 in a Seattle court, alleging infringement of its Xbox 360 controller patents. The publisher claimed in its court filings that Datel's Turbofire and WildFire controllers violated a patent for a protocol used by wireless accessories and consoles.

Datel redesigned the controllers and halted all imports of the TurboFire2 Xbox 360 Wireless pad to the U.S., and Microsoft subsequently withdrew its case but it continued to seek an unspecified amount of damages for past infringement.

While both of those cases have been settled, terms of the deal were not revealed. Microsoft spokesperson Kevin Kutz told Bloomberg that the terms were "to the satisfaction of both parties."

Source: Gamasutra