AfterDawn: News

Judge overturns $1.5bn lawsuit in favor of Microsoft

A federal judge in San Diego, California today reversed a jury's decision which decided two patents held by Alcatel were infringed upon by Microsoft's Windows Media Player. Both of these patents deal with how audio is converted into MP3. Alcatel sued Microsoft claiming that the technology they used was stolen by Microsoft and used within Windows Media Player. Alcatel is stating that they will appeal the decision and Microsoft replied by saying the judge's reversal was a victory for consumers.

Mary Lou Ambrus of Alcatel-Lucent stated in response to the ruling, "This reversal of the judge's own pre-trial and post-trial rulings is shocking and disturbing." Judge Rudi Brewster said that Microsoft did not breach any patent laws because they had already paid a German company $16 billion to use one of the patents in question. The judge decided that since the German company didn't directly sue Microsoft, then no infringement was committed. Additionally, the judge was unable to justify the fine associated with the lawsuit. If Alcatel-Lucent would have been successful with its lawsuit, it would have been awarded upwards of $1.5 billion. The judge stated that should they file a new claim, he would not recognize that amount of money.



Source:
BBC

Written by: Dave Horvath @ 7 Aug 2007 17:02

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• 6 comments

• ZippyDSM

  So is this a case of a IP screw up and the courts letting bigger big biz off scott free or is it a case of the lesser company bullying the bigger?

  8.8.2007 01:01 #1

• theridges

  Quote:Judge Rudi Brewster said that Microsoft did not breach any patent laws because they had already paid a German company $16 billion to use one of the patents in question. The judge decided that since the German company didn't directly sue Microsoft, then no infringement was committed.
  from what i can get out of that...
  they moreless filled the wrong lawsuit and also asked for tooo much money..

  8.8.2007 02:16 #2

• justme81

  What I get is MS paid a german company for the right to use their tech Then are sued by Alcatel-Lucent for useing what they paid for sounds like to me that the Alcatel-lucent in the wrong. and the judge was on Alcatel-lucents side during pre and post trial ruleings which says somthing

  8.8.2007 08:58 #3

• RNR1995

  Originally posted by justme81: What I get is MS paid a german company for the right to use their tech Then are sued by Alcatel-Lucent for useing what they paid for sounds like to me that the Alcatel-lucent in the wrong. and the judge was on Alcatel-lucents side during pre and post trial ruleings which says somthingYes but in another M$ case, M$ stated that since the patent was in the US they could fairly steal the technology overseas and the judge agreed
  Can't have it both ways...unless your M$

  9.8.2007 16:23 #4

• Unfocused

  Maybe this is groundbreaking. A lawsuit that Microsoft didn't have to come out of the pocket. Hasn’t had that in awhile.

  14.8.2007 22:02 #5

• borhan9

  I think this was thrown out due to the fact of lack of evidence on Alcatels part and also Microsoft loves to probablly bribe as well :P

  17.8.2007 16:54 #6