Bigben Condemned to Pay €7 Million to Nintendo After 15 Years of Legal Battle

Nacon Fined €7 Million for Wiimote Patent Infringement after Decade-Long Legal Battle with Nintendo

After more than fifteen years of legal proceedings, Nintendo has secured a major victory against Bigben Interactive (now known as Nacon). On October 30, 2025, the Regional Court of Mannheim, Germany, delivered a verdict ordering the French company to pay nearly 7 million euros to Nintendo for infringing on the patent protecting the Wiimote, the controller for the Wii console. This amount includes damages, interest accrued since 2018, and legal fees. The lawsuit, initiated in 2017, centered on claims that Nacon's Razer Raiju and Raiju Ultimate game controllers copied Nintendo's patents for the Wii's motion-controlled remote and nunchuk accessory. Nintendo has also taken legal action against other companies over alleged Wii controller patent violations, including a 2019 lawsuit against HTC. At the heart of the dispute with Nacon was Nintendo's assertion that Bigben's third-party Wiimotes, commercialized during the Wii's popularity, infringed on a crucial patent (EP 1 854 518). This patent safeguards the fundamental technology of the official Wiimote, specifically the combination of ergonomic and technical features like the camera and accelerometer that enable the Wii's signature motion-based control.

Increased €3 Million Damages for Bigben in Decade-Long Nintendo Patent Dispute due to High Interest and Infringement on Alternative Gamepads

To calculate damages, Nintendo employed the "lost profits" theory, arguing that sales made by Bigben would have instead gone to Nintendo. This required Nintendo to disclose its own sales figures. The damages ultimately increased by 3 million euros due to high interest rates (5% above central bank rates) resulting from Nacon's delaying tactics throughout the case. The court dismissed Bigben's argument that consumers would have purchased alternative third-party gamepads, noting that those products would likely have infringed on the patent as well. The court also ruled that Nintendo's existing production and distribution costs would not be deducted from the damage calculation. This successful outcome underscores Nintendo's continued vigilance in protecting its intellectual property.

In Case You Missed It

Intrigued by the latest gaming trends and records? Firstly, you'll be thrilled to know that The Witcher 3 is still enchanting players a decade after its release. Check out Bruno Pferd's recent piece, 'The Witcher 3 More Beautiful Than Ever 10 Years After Its Release', where digital creator Digital Dreams showcases the game running at an astonishing 4K and 120fps The Witcher 3 More Beautiful Than Ever 10 Years After Its Release. Meanwhile, if you're eager to dive into Call of Duty Black Ops 7, Activision has a treat for you. Carlos Mendoza's timely post, "Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Free for Everyone, But Hurry!", reveals that the game is free to play until December 22nd, offering access to its multiplayer and Zombies modes without any subscription commitments Call of Duty Black Ops 7 Free for Everyone, But Hurry!. And speaking of record-breaking experiences, Jonathan Dubinski's recent article, "The Game Awards 2025 Sets Historical Record with 171 Million Live Views", explores how this year's event became the most-watched gaming media event ever, with an impressive peak audience of 4.4 million concurrent viewers The Game Awards 2025 Sets Historical Record with 171 Million Live Views.