A federal judge ruled that several controllers created by Nintendo such as Gamecube controller, the Wavebird wireless pad and the Wii Classic add-on are infringing the patents held by a Texas-based company, Anascape.

According to the Associated Press Nintendo of America should pay $21 million to Anascape, but the company’s spokeperson said the company would seek an appeal.

The original lawsuit was filed in 2006 and Anascape also sued Microsoft for patent infringements on game controllers. However the Redmond-based company has settled the lawsuit earlier this month. Microsoft declined to reveal the terms of the settlement.

In the original complaint, Anascape was saying that these two companies were breaking 12 of their patents.

Each of the patents were filed by Brad Armstrong of Paradise, California between the years of 1996 and 2001, and were awarded to him at various dates between 1999 and 2005.

Among the patents included in the company's complaint are patent numbers 5,999,084, labeled "Variable Conductance Sensor", 6,102,802, labeled “Game controller with analog pressure sensor(s)”, 6,135,886, labeled “Variable Conductance Sensor with Elastomeric Dome Cap” and 6,208,271, labeled “Remote Controller with Analog Button”.

Anascape claimed at the time that Microsoft and Nintendo's infringement of the patents was "willful and deliberate, entitling Anascape to enhanced damages."