Immersion, Microsoft go for settlement
Seatle: Immersion Corp, a maker of technology that lets users interact with computers through the sense of touch, has said Microsoft Corp has agreed to pay it $26 million in licensing fees to settle a lawsuit, according to reports. Microsoft, the world's largest software maker, will also make an equity investment in San Jose, California-based Immersion, the company said in a statement. Immersion sued Microsoft in February 2002, for patent infringement and also has a lawsuit pending against Sony Corp.'s video game unit and its US subsidiary. Video games, as well as virtual reality games, often use vibration and feedback to enhance the realism of games.

Microsoft, which makes the Xbox video game machine that competes with Sony'S PlayStation 2 console, will now be able to use Immersion's haptic (sense of touch) technologies its software, product and services, Immersion said. Immersion said the agreements "grant Microsoft licensing rights for Immersion's patent portfolio, which is primarily directed to haptic technologies (the sense of touch)." "They (Microsoft) are an ideal partner to help demonstrate the value and benefits of haptic technologies to consumer markets such as personal computers, games and handheld devices," Victor Viegas, president and CEO of Immersion, said in a statement.
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