EA, SCEA, Ubisoft, Disney Settle With Voice Tech Patent Holder

Four major video game industry players can put to rest a lawsuit brought forth last year by a voice recognition technology patent holder, according to court documents obtained by Gamasutra. Texas-based Bareis Technologies settled with Ubisoft, Sony Computer Entertainment America, Disney Interactive and Electronic Arts last week after coming to an undisclosed "mutual agreement" before the case went before a U.S. District Court. Bareis sued the companies last year, alleging that the game makers infringed on the 13-year-old patent that involves accessing disc-based data through vocal inputs. The original complaint cited allegedly infringing games including Ubisoft's EndWar strategy game, SCEA's SOCOM, EA's NASCAR 06 and 07 and Disney's Phonics Quest. On April 22, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas Tyler Division approved a joint motion for mutual dismissal, which effectively dismissed both Bareis' claims as well as the defendants' counterclaim. The two parties did not disclose terms of the settlement, although Bareis' original complaint sought damages or a "reasonable royalty." All parties involved will pay their own legal fees, according to the dismissal filing.