Yahoo has been preparing to take “formal action” against Facebook over and unresolved patent claim. The homepage giant is claiming Facebook has violated its social networking and online advertising patents. Today, Yahoo has sued Facebook and released the following statement:

Yahoo! has invested substantial resources in research and development through the years, which has resulted in numerous patented inventions of technology that other companies have licensed. These technologies are the foundation of our business that engages over 700 million monthly unique visitors and represent the spirit of innovation upon which Yahoo! is built. Unfortunately, the matter with Facebook remains unresolved and we are compelled to seek redress in federal court. We are confident that we will prevail.

Talks with both companies had been in the works for the past couple of months, but an agreement could not be found. Facebook released the following statement.

We’re disappointed that Yahoo, a longtime business partner of Facebook and a company that has substantially benefitted from its association with Facebook, has decided to resort to litigation. Once again, we learned of Yahoo’s decision simultaneously with the media. We will defend ourselves vigorously against these puzzling actions.

All Things Digital’s Kara Swisher reports that Yahoo’s new chief executive Scott Thompson was behind the lawsuit against the social networking giant.

With Thompson’s takeover in January, the company has been restructured, with co-founder Jerry Yang and Chairman Roy Bostock leaving the company.

The lawsuit comes at a dangerous time for Facebook as the company prepares for its IPO. Yahoo used a similar tactic against Google when they were filing for IPO and managed to walk away with some pre-IPO shares.

The 10 patents Yahoo is using to sue Facebook can be found here

As revealed on attackofthefanboy.com, Halo-makers Bungie Studios have trademarked something. The studio has registered it with United States Patent and Trademark Office and it may not be a new game at all.

Bungie Aeorospace, and the logo embedded below, is the registered activity in question, but just what the heck is it?

The logo.

Halo: Reach, being the final Bungie produced Halo title, leads us to believe it’s either the studio’s next project, a game engine that 343 Industries (the team taking the Halo reins) can use for a future game, or something entirely different.

“Aerospace” is extremely vaguely listed as merely something to do with video games, leaving many doors and options open. It’s listed under the following:

“Computer game software downloadable from a global computer network; Computer game software for personal computers and home video game consoles; Computer game software for use on mobile and cellular phones; Computer software, namely, game engine software for video game development and operation; Interactive game software; Video game software”

Any guesses as to what Aerospace is? Or, what do you want it to be?

Source: IGN

Official trademark listing

Most of the game industry scoffed earlier this year when rumor broke of Sony working on a new “waggle controller” similar to the technology used in Nintendo’s Wii controller. It appears now that the story may be more than just rumor.

Sony filed a patent on October 23 for “a‚ method by which a system could track the movement of one or more controllers, with video tracking the position of the controllers and ultrasonic frequencies used to determine their distance from the console.” In the most likely scenario, as depicted in images found alongside the filing, ‚ the controller will use the Playstation Eye, along with its built in microphone to track multiple controllers movement and distance.

The filing shows a oddly shaped controller with ‚ a‚ retro-reflective sphere area at the end. The sphere seemingly gives off it’s own light source and changes color to indicate data being sent or received. An additional image also shows two of the controllers being hooked together to form a longer bow and arrow shaped controller.

Sony has issued no official statement on the controller or patent, stick with Blast as this story breaks.