Zenimax Sues Samsung over VR Technology in Gear Goggles

Megalith

Megalith

24-bit/48kHz
Staff member
Joined
Aug 20, 2006
Messages
13,000
Zenimax has turned their sights toward Samsung after claiming victory over Oculus: the former has filed a lawsuit against the Korean company for continuing Gear VR development despite the fact it uses Oculus tech. In the Oculus case, Zenimax was paid $500 million for copyright infringement, and now it may be Samsung’s turn to pay up.

ZeniMax argues that Samsung should have been aware of ZeniMax's 2014 lawsuit against Oculus but "continued to develop the Gear VR with full knowledge of ZeniMax's allegations and without obtaining any right or permission from ZeniMax to use any of its copyrights or other confidential information." The lawsuit against Samsung seeks damages, profits from the sales of "infringing works" and "use of trade secrets," royalties, injunctive relief and punitive damages.
 
Anyone else think that they'll go after Valve and any other VR company even if the tech is not related to Oculus's tech? Isn't this how it sort of starts?
 
isnt gear vr just lenses like google cardboard but in a nicer package? if there is no code, which is what i thought they went after carmack for, what infringement are they going after other then the oculus name link?
 
The Gear VR is about as advanced as Google Cardboard. What exactly is Zenimax claiming is infringing?
 
aliaskary77 said:
isnt gear vr just lenses like google cardboard but in a nicer package? if there is no code, which is what i thought they went after carmack for, what infringement are they going after other then the oculus name link?
Click to expand...

The gear VR has it's own high-resolution gyroscopes and accelerometers (separate from the ones in the phone).

You can see the difference when you run cardboard apps on a GearVR. There is a significant decrease in head tracking speed and accuracy with cardboard, because cardboard apps can't access the sensors in the GearVR, and are forced to use the less accurate phone sensors instead.

NickJames said:
The Gear VR is about as advanced as Google Cardboard. What exactly is Zenimax claiming is infringing?
Click to expand...

The Gear VR uses (some) technology from Oculus, which has already been found infringing. Whether the Gear VR actually contains the infringing technology remains to be seen, though.
 
admiralperpetual said:
doesn't it also overclock the display to run at a higher refresh rate when in Gear VR mode?
Click to expand...

That is just a software setting to turn on low-persistence mode (a feature of samsung oled panels). There is a hidden setting on the phone to force it on manually, which is very unpleasant to look at under normal smartphone use.
You can still use low persistence mode with cardboard, you just have to manually turn it on and off.
 
seeks damages
Click to expand...

How exactly is it damaging Zinemax? Aren't they doing more damage to themselves by looking like cry-baby whiney poopy heads?
 
Megalith said:
ZeniMax argues that Samsung should have been aware of ZeniMax's 2014 lawsuit against Oculus but "continued to develop the Gear VR with full knowledge of ZeniMax's allegations and without obtaining any right or permission from ZeniMax to use any of its copyrights or other confidential information." The lawsuit against Samsung seeks damages, profits from the sales of "infringing works" and "use of trade secrets," royalties, injunctive relief and punitive damages.
Click to expand...
This actually sounds like Zenimax is suing Samsung for deliberate infringement, which according to US patent laws, can award triple damages.
 
Youn said:
How exactly is it damaging Zinemax? Aren't they doing more damage to themselves by looking like cry-baby whiney poopy heads?
Click to expand...

No, Zenimax is not a brand consumer in general would have been aware of (unlike Samsung).

The PR damage here is to Samsung, not to Zenimax. In corporate setting it's a different message.
 
Megalith said:
Zenimax has turned their sights toward Samsung after claiming victory over Oculus: the former has filed a lawsuit against the Korean company for continuing Gear VR development despite the fact it uses Oculus tech. In the Oculus case, Zenimax was paid $500 million for copyright infringement, and now it may be Samsung’s turn to pay up.
Click to expand...

ZeniMax hasn't been paid anything from the vs. Oculus lawsuit, yet, since Oculus is appealing the $500 million verdict. Also, the vs. Oculus verdict included more than just copyright infringement, despite all of ZeniMax' original claims against Oculus having been found False by a jury:

"Of the $500 million, Oculus is paying out $200 million for breaking the NDA and $50 million for copyright infringement. Oculus and Luckey each have to pay $50 million for false designation. And former Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe has to pay $150 million for the same, final count."


ZeniMax is the stereotypical classic big publisher: greedy, dishonest, and predatory, while sticking to safe game formulas. Wouldn't mind seeing them get their comeuppance, eventually.
 
Last edited:
sir-gold said:
That is just a software setting to turn on low-persistence mode (a feature of samsung oled panels). There is a hidden setting on the phone to force it on manually, which is very unpleasant to look at under normal smartphone use.
You can still use low persistence mode with cardboard, you just have to manually turn it on and off.
Click to expand...
interesting! wish my iphone 7 plus had that :p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top