MP3 patent decision reversed in Microsoft’s favor
I’m sure the lawyers at Microsoft are jumping for joy today but then again, Microsoft has more money to pour onto its problems than some companies make in a year. Microsoft won the reversal of a $1.5 billion jury verdict against it for infringing on a MP3 technology patent held by Alcatel-Lucent.
Judge Rudi Brewster of the U.S. District Court for Southern Calfornia threw out the claim after discovering that the jury made an error. The new ruling says that one of the patents claimed by Alcatel-Lucent was not actually held by that company and the other patent in the case was owned by Microsoft through a partner and therefore the ruling is null and void.
Microsoft is quite pleased with the ruling saying, “Today’s ruling by the judge reversing the jury’s $1.52 billion verdict against Microsoft is a victory for consumers of digital music and a triumph for common sense in the patent system.” Oh, but users shouldn’t celebrate too quickly, as we’re trying to move away from DRM, Microsoft is trying to force it down our throats.
It doesn’t have to pay any fines, yet, there will no doubt be more appeals in the case with Lucent saying, “The reversal of the judge’s own pre-trial and post-trial rulings is shocking and disturbing.”
Whatever happened to live and let live?
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