GOOGLE PATENT SEARCH (Only $Free.99!)

Have you seen those cartoon-looking commercials that come on mid-day during the "Jerry Springer" and/or Maury shows where they show some prehistoric dude accidentally inventing the wheel. Some guy in a suit then comes on screen and offers to protect your invention. Has anyone ever called one of these companies? Just curious.

Anyway if you ever wanted to search the database of United States patents, then you should check out GOOGLE PATENTS.

The datebase of Google Patents covers the entire collection of patents made available by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)—from patents issued in the 1790s through those issued in the middle of 2006. Unfortunately, the database does not include patent applications, international patents, or U.S. patents issued over the last few months, but Google says that it will expand coverage in the future.

SONY SETTLES LAWSUIT OVER VIBRATION TECHNOLOGY FOR ITS PLAYSTATION JOYSTICKS

It appears that the vibration technology which has caused a many lost lives on challenging video games will make a return in the PS2.

Sony Corp. and Immersion Corp. said they have settled their long-simmering patent dispute over the vibration technology that shakes video game controllers, and will work together to bring the so-called "rumble" function back to PlayStation products.

The rest of the article can be read at:

http://fsnews.findlaw.com/articles/ap/o/51/03-02-2007/1f050011b83e7ed2.html

This technology cost me a sick Civic Si in Need for Speed Underground 2. I remember racing against some Lexus IS 300s and coming around the corner at 145 mph. My car hit the wall and the joystick started vibrating like it was about to explode. I dropped the controller which then caused my beautiful Si to explode.