Probably because it’s on a controller. It is fucking stupid.

Payment terminal, can’t patent that. Payment terminal on a toaster? Yes you can patent that. Lol

Payment terminal on a toaster

BRB!

At this point, it’s getting into findom territory. “Don’t want your toast to burn you disgusting pervert? You make such pathetic financial decisions. You should give that money to me instead, and maybe I’ll consider only burning your toast a little.”

Thanks for making me remember old scars.

That’s so excellent

Visa and MasterCard already excerise findom. You aren’t allowed to use your money on anything that makes mommy visa and daddy mastercard look bad. Else you will be banned.

or you’re an ICC judge that issued Netanyahou arrest warrant just for a lil’ genocide

There’s supposed to be an inventive height. Obvious combinations aren’t patentable by law. But the patent offices are all stupid and just lets it happen and force people to take it to court.

None of the idiots in these comments or even reporting on this understand how patents work. They didn’t patent anything–they filed an application that has years ahead of it before they argue with the USPTO about what it actually covers, if they ever even achieve a granted application. Their starting point, first claim posted below, is already somewhat broad and easily designed around so I suspect if they get anything at all it’ll be nothing more than an unenforceable line item asset they can use as security for financing purposes.

1. A method for operating a video game controller, the method comprising: detecting that an electronic device is within a predetermined distance from the video game controller, wherein the video game controller is wirelessly coupled to a video game console; in response to detecting that the electronic device is within the predetermined distance from the video game controller, emitting a signal from the video game controller; receiving a notification from the electronic device, the notification indicating that the signal was received by the electronic device; in response to receiving the notification from the electronic device, receiving a first message from the electronic device, the first message comprising payment method information for a video game player associated with the video game controller; and transmitting a second message from the video game controller to the video game console, wherein the second message comprises the payment method information, and wherein transmitting the second message serves as a response to an event that has occurred at the video game console.