Worlds.com Sues NCsoft Over Virtual Worlds

Virtual world pioneer Worlds.com has sued game developer NCsoft for violating a patent on interacting with 3D spaces...who might be next?

Virtual world pioneer Worlds.com has filed a patend infringement lawsuit against game developer NCsoft, maker of Guild Wars and other titles, alleging NCsoft is violating the company’s patent 7,181,690 covering a method by which users can interact with a virtual, 3D space. Worlds.com has filed the suit in the patent holder-friendly Eastern District of Texas, and various sources have the company looking for a quick resolution, possibly in the form of a settlement.

News of the suit has travelled quickly, with industry watchers wondering whether efforts like World of Warcraft,Second Life, or even PlayStation Home might be next in Worlds.com’s crosshairs. Some have speculated that any virtual environment with avatars might be at risk of being in violation of the patent. Although Worlds.com’s patent application stems all the way back to the mid-1990s, there may also be instances of prior art that would invalidate Worlds.com’s patent claim. Reports indicate that Worlds.com didn’t start with NCsoft for any particular reason, although observers note that the largely-Korean company might be hard pressed to put on an effective court defense in the United States. Worlds.com has apparently not yet contacted other virtual world operators.

Worlds.com recently retained intellectual property law firm Lerner David Littenberg Krumholz & Mentlik LLP to enforce its patents.

NCsoft’s U.S. office is closed for the year; Worlds.com similarly could not be reached for comment.