These patent infringement lawsuits really are getting out of hand. This latest fiasco was started by Texas-based Wall Wireless LLC, who is suing Sony, Nintendo, and Nokia.

They claim that these three companies are infringing on their patent, named: "Method and Apparatus for Creating and Distributing Real-Time Interactive Media Content Through Wireless Communication Networks and the Internet."

The patent explains that the invention will "allow an operator to distribute messages having aural or visual content that is generated by the operator using handheld apparatuses such as mobile telephones."

Wall Wireless claims that the PSP and the DS, and several of Nokia's phones, are infringing on this genius of a patent. I'm wondering why they only chose to sue these three companies. Why stop there? Sue Apple for the iPhone. Sue every major electronics company. Sue the government. Sue my grandmother.

They filed for the patent back in 2001, which the US Patent Office issued in 2003. They sent a notice of the patent to the defendants "at least as early as October 2008," but they have yet to take a license. They further add that:

Unless a permanent injunction is issued enjoining Defendants from infringing the ‘086 patent, Wall Wireless will be irreparably harmed.

As a result of Defendants’ infringement of the ‘086 patent, Wall Wireless has suffered monetary damages that are compensable ... by no less than a reasonable royalty.

Sony recently lost a patent suit and was fined US$ 18.5 million for it. Nintendo also lost a patent suit over the Wiimote tech late last year, and was fined US$ 21 million. Coincidink? Strike while the iron is hot.