University Daily Kansan / Wednesday, February 12, 1992
11
Peggy Woods/KANSAN
Delicious hearts
Doug Denney, professor of psychology, ordered a customized Valentine's cookie at Union Square yesterday for his son. The cookies, provided by Union catering, will be on sale for $5 at the food service areas in the Kansas and Burge Unions.
Atari, Nintendo begin court battle
The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — Nintendo, ruler of the video game world, and once-dominant Atari Corp. faced off in federal court yesterday over Atari's claim that Nintendo has frozen competitors out of the $4 billion market.
"There was no fair competition," Atari Corp. lawyer William Jaeger said in his opening statement to the U.S. District court jury. "We did not have access to the hit games that we needed to compete."
Atari Corp., based in Sunnyvale, Calif., is seeking damages for lost profits it blames on Nintendo's alleged anti-competitive actions. Lawyers predict the trial will last nine weeks.
Jaeger said Nintendo's monoply cost consumers hundreds of millions of dollars, deprived the United States of a competitive video games market and cost Atari $160 million over five years.
Nintendoloawyer John Kirby said the Japanese company gained dominance in the market by taking a chance and investing in the nearly dormant home video game market in the mid-1980s while Atari squandered its advantage.
"Atiari tried half-heartedly to compete on the cheap," Kirby told the jury, arguing that Atiari underestimated the potential of home video games.
He said Aiati waited two years to market its own advanced computer
A key issue in the lawsuit is Nintendo's former requirement that private developers of video games agree not to make the games available to other computer console systems for two years in exchange for a license to use the Nintendo system.
system, and then filed suit in 1989 when it was denied a "free ride" on the Nintendo system.
Kirby said the contracts, which Nintendo dropped in 1990, were needed to give game-developers and customers alike a guarantee of quality in an industry that had suffered from unrestricted access by mediocre games.
Jaeger said Nintendo used the exclusive-rights arrangement, in combination with its power in the market, to lock up lucrative games in violation of antitrust law.
Nintendo, which controls 80 percent of the U.S. home video game market, has been enmeshed in lawsuits for the last several years involving abuses of its market power.
The Federal Trade Commission and several states last year resolved a price-fixing claim against Nintendo with a settlement that gave buyers of game cartridges a $5 rebate.
KU graduate named one 'point of light'
Atari Games Corp., which is unrelated to Atari Corp., is suing Nintendo over a security code that locks Atari Games cartridges out of Ata systems.
By Jenny Martin Kansan staff writer
KU graduate Patrick Hughes was recognized last week by President Bush as one of 1,000 "Daily Points of Light."
Carvel Lewis, college youth coordinator for the Office of National Service in Washington, D.C., said that the "Points of Light" program was part of an effort by the president to get Americans involved in helping those who are in need.
Lewis said that from 100 to 200 nominations were received by the office each week, but that only six people were chosen each week to be honored by the president as a "Daily Point of Light."
Bush is honoring those who have shown dedication to solving social problems through community service, he said.
Hughes, a May 1991 graduate, was recognized as the 678th "Daily Point of Light" on Thursday.
"It's pretty incredible," Hughess said. "I never thought I'd be getting calls from the White House."
He was honored for a program he began at the University of Kansas in 1990 called Natural Ties. The program integrates people with disabilities into social organizations with people their ownage.
Hughes was nominated for the honor by Mark Paoletta, assistant counsel to the president. In December, Paoletta met Hughes in Chicago and asked him for information about the program. Hughes sent the information, but said he was unaware of Paoletta's intent.
Hughes continues to oversee the expansion and organization of the Natural Ties program from his hometown of Evanston, Ill. Other universities across the country, such as Northwestern University, Florida State University and South Dakota State University, have adopted the Natural Ties program.
Hughes, who volunteers as the executive director of the program, said he had no idea that the program was going to be such a success.
Heplans to remain in Illinois and help the Natural Tie programs within the state schools become well-established.
"I don't want it to be a franchise; we're dealing with people here," Hughes said. "The program is only going to good as the time and effort put into it."
VALENTINE GIFTS FOR HIM
Valentine Briefs and Boxers from Jockey $ ^{ \textcircled{R}}$
Famous Jockey® quality in smooth, comfortable 100% cotton with heart designs.
Briefs $5.50 & $6.50, Heart Boxers $12.00
Solid and Patterned Silk Boxers $25-$30
Shop Thursday 9:30-8:30 pm.
Kansas and Burge Unions
"Love Me
Valentine's Day Open House 1992
Like A Hawk"
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Feb. 13
Register in the Union departments for Dream Datedrawing. Entry boxes located throughout Unions
A baker will be available to decorate giant heart-shaped cookies, 11-1, Union Square
Feb.14 - DAY
Fresh Flower Sale in both Union lobbies and Wescoe Terrace, 11-2
Create Your Own Valentines in the Kansas Union lobby
Register for Carriage Rides, SUA office, 8:30-4:30
Jayhawk Mascots roving, passing out chocolate kisses
A baker will be available to decorate giant heart-shaped cookies, 11-1 Kansas Union lobby
Two for one bowling in the Jaybowl
Candy "Conversation Hearts," $1.50/lb.Information Counter Kansas Union lobby
Piano music, Kansas Union, 11-1
Fortune teller, Kansas Union lobby 11-2
Free Red Passion Punch, 11am Kansas Union lobby
Register at the Bookstores to win free tickets to the OU Basketball Game Feb.24
Bookstore discounts on specially marked items
Half-price discounts on specially marked sandwiches and strawberry sodas at Wescoe Terrace, while supplies last
♥ Candy count at Wescoe Terrace
Feb.14 - EVENING
Carriage Rides, 5:30-7:30 pm (Advance tickets should be purchased at the SUA Box Office)
Two for one bowling continues until 1 am in the Jaybowl
♥ SUA movie:"101 Dalmatians," 7 & 9:30 pm
SUA movie:"Tie Me Up,Tie Me Down."midnight
Drawing for winner of Dream Date contest (Need not be present to win)