The Xbox controller made by Microsoft is in the middle. The Datel controllers for Xbox are on the top and bottom.

The Xbox controller made by Microsoft is in the middle. The Datel controllers for Xbox are on the top and bottom.

Datel Design and Development, based in Staffordshire, sells game system accessories online and in stores such as Walmart, Best Buy and Target, Microsoft said in a Thursday complaint filed in U.S. District Court for Western Washington.

Microsoft are suiing them for what the software giant say is an infringement by the UK-based company of a number of patents that it holds.

Microsoft also claims that the devices sold by Datel are clones of the official Xbox 360 peripherals marketed by Microsoft. The latter is seeking undisclosed amount of financial damages.

Many are wondering if this is just “tit for tat” action from Microsoft afer Datel, the manufacturer of after-market peripherals for the Xbox 360, is taking Microsoft to court after the last update to the console rendered Datel’s cards useless.

The company claims Microsoft’s update was designed to prevent the memory cards from working with the Xbox 360. “The dashboard update is intended to, and does in fact, disable Datel’s memory cards,” says Datel in its lawsuit.