[Algorithms] Collision detection patent

[Michael S. H. <mic...@ud...>]

I have no idea if this is going to start an off-topic patent war, but I'm interested in the reaction here on the following patent.  http://www.patents.ibm.com/details?pn=US06067096__ 

I read about it in the latest Game Developer and did a bit of reading through the patent claims since it appears that Mr. Nagle is attempting to patent methods which have not only been written about prior to his application (March, '98) but actually implemented in our, and other people's engines, prior to '98.

According to GDMag, he actually intends to go after game companies which infringe his patent.

Thoughts?


- Michael Harrison
  High Plains Coder, 
  United Developers / Inertia, LLC
  Work log @ http://lynx.inertiagames.com