Nintendo is facing a ban on US sales of some Wii and GameCube controllers after the platform holder failed in its bid to overturn a $21 million patent-infringement verdict, reports Bloomberg.

Back in May Nintendo was ordered to pay $21 million to Anascape Ltd after infringing on a patent that covers remotes that control six types of motions at the same time.

A Texas court has now rejected Nintendo’s request for a new trial in the case, and announced plans to ban US sales of the Wii Classic controller, WaveBird controller and Nintendo GameCube controller.

However, the ban has been put on hold as Nintendo appeals the decision, with Nintendo forced to post a bond or put royalties in an escrow account to avoid the halt, meaning the company remains free to continue selling the Wii Classic controller in the meantime. The firm no longer produces the GameCube or WaveBird controllers.

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Cinemagoers are set to experience an entirely new Nightmare on Elm Street, with Warner Bros. today hiring a scribe to pen a remake of the horror classic.

Wesley Strick, who knows a thing or two about scares having written Arachnophobia, Cape Fear and Wolf in the early 1990s, has been charged with the task of re-imagining the scare-fest for a new generation.

According to Variety, Strick's re-boot will retain the original's high school setting, but delve deeper into the psychology of the razor-gloved serial killer Freddy Krueger.

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Bryan Singer is in negotiations to produce "Capeshooters," a superhero project set up at Warner Bros.

According to the industry trades, Warner Bros. acquired the upcoming Rob Liefeld graphic novel for Singer's Bad Hat Harry production banner, making the announcement on the eve of San Diego's Comic-Con.

Singer is expected to produce, but not direct.

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A bill enacting new restrictions on violent video games has been signed into law by Gov. David Paterson … a move civil libertarian groups say will be challenged in court on free speech grounds.

The measure was among three dozen the governor signed into law Tuesday. Another law expands civil orders of protection access to include alleged abusers not related to the victim. And another provides for automatic revocation of state teaching licenses by educators convicted of sex crimes.

The video game legislation came together during the final 24 hours of the legislative session in June.

It requires that games sold by retailers include the industry's voluntary rating board. It also requires game consoles to include special features by 2010 that enable parents to lock out certain kinds of games based on content or rating. And the legislation creates a state advisory council to study the connection.

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Since debut single Baby Girl hit the country charts four years ago this week, Sugarland has gone from being something of a local Atlanta supergroup to being one of the most reliable hitmakers on the country scene.

Love on the Inside, Sugarland's third album, comes out today, an almost certain No. 1 country album. The act has sold nearly 5 million copies of two previous discs. Current single All I Want to Do is No. 3 and climbing on USA TODAY's country airplay chart.

In a conservative country music industry that places high value on following established business models, Nettles and Bush follow their own muse.

"We sort of have a why-not philosophy," Nettles says.

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Batman star Christian Bale was arrested Tuesday over allegations of assaulting his mother and sister, police and British media said.

The 34-year-old actor spent four hours at a London police station before being released on bail.

British media had reported that Bale's mother and sister complained he had assaulted them at the Dorchester Hotel in London on Sunday night, a day before the European premiere of his latest film, "The Dark Knight."

The Sun newspaper said police did not question the actor Monday because they did not want to interfere with the premiere of the movie.

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Epic Games today announced that Del Rey will publish three novels based upon the Gears of War franchise. The first such book, Gears of War: The Battle of Aspho Fields written by Karen Traviss, will go on sale October 28, 2008. The game sequel Gears of War 2 will release on November 7, 2008 exclusively for the Xbox 360.

"After finishing the first Gears of War game, players were left wanting to know more about Delta Squad and the events leading up to Emergence Day," said Epic Games' president Michael Capps. "This trilogy of novels opens up whole new worlds of storytelling opportunities, and will add even more context to the upcoming comic book series, game sequel and motion picture. We loved Karen Traviss' work on the Republic Commando series, and we can't wait to get her Gears book to our fans."

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Jessica Simpson's debut country performance didn't sit well with fans at the Country Thunder USA Festival in Twin Lakes, Wisc., the Kenosha News reports.

The singer, who is dating Wisconsin native Tony Romo, was booed as she walked onto the stage after a performance by "American Idol" finalist Kellie Pickler. Clad in Daisy Dukes, a white button-down and cowboy boots, Simpson performed covers of Willie Nelson and Shania Twain hits, as well as songs from her new album "Do You Know."

While fan Mary Grace, 24, told the Kenosha News that "I actually like her country songs better. She has a great voice, plus, she's adorable," most audience members agreed with Adam Matos, 21.

"I just don't hear the country in her; I don't hear the twang. She's not good enough to be here."

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Another weekend, another trip to jail for DMX. The rapper (born Earl Simmons) was arrested at Phoenix, Arizona's Metrocenter mall on Saturday on suspicion of giving a false name and Social Security number to the Scottsdale, Arizona, Mayo Clinic, where the 37-year-old MC went for treatment in April.

According to the Arizona Republic newspaper, X is facing charges of theft of services and identity theft in what officials said was an attempt to skirt $7,500 in medical bills. After his arrest, DMX was put into isolation for his own safety on Sunday at the Towers Jail, where he is being held on $60,000 bond.

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Batman film The Dark Knight has set a box office record for best opening weekend ever at the US box office, distributor Warner Bros has said.

The sequel took $155.3m (£77.7m) in North America, beating the record set last year by Spider-Man 3, which took $151.1m (£75.5m).

Batman, which opened on Friday, took $66.4m (£33.2m), which was also a single-day box office record.

Directed by Christopher Nolan, it cost $185m (£92.5m) to make.

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