Microsoft Pays $440M to License InterTrust Patents

theodp writes "Microsoft is paying $440 million to InterTrust to settle a three-year-old patent infringement lawsuit over DRM technology for protecting music, movies and other digital content against piracy. Under the settlement agreement, customers can use Microsoft products and services without a license from InterTrust. Developers, however, may need a license from InterTrust for other uses, including the combination of Microsoft technology with third-party technology." C.J. adds a link to the New York Times' coverage of the settlement.

Comments

Re:$440 million?

[grub]

for $440 million im sure microsoft can develop a DRM system 100000x better then what they have right now

Based on their record thus far, zero times "100000" still doesn't add to much.

0.4 billion.

[Anonymous Coward]

Thats what, roughly 1% of their total cash? Between this at the UK trouble they are down 2%.

Keep chipping away fellas.

Reaffirmage

[tds67]

"Licensing InterTrust's patent portfolio reaffirms Microsoft's commitment to the importance of intellectual property rights as well as our commitment to our customers to stand behind our products in these emerging technology areas," said Marshall Phelps, Minister of intellectual property at Microsoft.

It reaffirms that Microsoft will respect your intellectual property rights when they can't assimilate them by brute force.

hmm..

[dj245]

Microsoft, patents, a conspiracy to make lots of money, Intertrust, and a "registration required" New York Times Article. All we need to whip the /. crowd into a froth now is a Linux reference and a SCO allegory. Here goes.

This is soooo just like SCO trying to make money on linux. I hope they lose!

Re:hmm..

[dj245]

>>sig: The number of the modding shall be three, four shall the number of the modding not be, neither shall it be 2...

>quote: You fools! five is right out!

As it was originally 2 with the karma bonus, it was only modded +3. 3 was indeed the number of their modding. The number of their modding was 3. Their modding did not extend to +4 (extra funny), neither did it languish to +2 (a total of +4). A modding of +5 was right out impossible, as the karma is good.

Then shall I reacheth out with most holiest of karma points and posteth a reply and it shall be a +2.

Anyone else read...

[ocie]

Microsoft pays $440M to license InterTrode Patents?

Microsoft: spending those billions

[mveloso]

Now everyone knows why Microsoft was sitting on all that cash: they're gonna buy their way outta trouble. Why not? It's easier for them to buy their way out of trouble.

Andd after all that, they'll still have billions and billions lying around to cross-subsidize their money-losing ventures. Those money-losing ventures, of course, include almost everything Microsoft does except Windows and Office.

Microsoft's new slogan should be "Innovating financial solutions to legal problems."

this doesn't make sense

[Trailer Trash]

customers can use Microsoft products and services without a license from InterTrust.

Wait, is this saying that Microsoft hasn't indemnified its customers against these sorts of claims? Stupifying. Anyone alerted Didiot? She might want to write an article.

This is bad

[tsotha]

Thus spake the evil wizard as he gathered a small amount of his power to summon a demon from the depths of hell:

"I have nurtured you and made you strong. Attack my enemies forthwith and destroy all rivals to my power!"

Shouldn't mix this cough medicine with caffeine...

Irony

[Dachannien]

Isn't there some minor irony in ripping off someone else's DRM scheme?