Microsoft Corp on Thursday filed a lawsuit claiming British video game accessory maker Datel Design and Development Ltd is illegally copying the software company's game console controllers.

Microsoft, which makes the Xbox game system, claims Datel's TurboFire and WildFire wireless controllers -- which resemble Xbox controllers and sell for up to $50 on the Internet -- infringe a number of Microsoft patents.

In the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Seattle, Microsoft asks for an unspecified amount of compensatory damages, payment of royalties or profits Datel made from the sales, while also asking for an injunction on manufacturing the disputed controllers.

A call to Datel's U.S. unit, which is also named as a defendant in the suit, was not immediately returned.

(Reporting by Bill Rigby)

Microsoft Software