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Microsoft WMV In Patent Trouble?

Posted by Hemos on from the probably-not-but-who-knows dept.

thpr writes "According to rethink, Microsoft may be violating patents in their Windows Media software. Apparently, the VC1 standard (from The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers), which has been pushed by Microsoft, depends on patents owned by other companies - more than likely, those that have patents used in the previous MPEG standards. According to the sources in the story, both Sony and Philips may take the case to court, rather than continuing negotiation. As they point out in a later update, Sony might be pleased to have a say in the competing HD-DVD format. Is this a 'major speed bump to Microsoft's dominance of digital media markets'?" Well, the answer, IMHO, is probably not - this is a negotiation issue. But this is a wonderful example of how intertwined legal & software issues can become.

3 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. But the punchline is: by smchris · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    According to the sources in the story, both Sony and Philips may take the case to court, rather than continuing negotiation.

    Ooooh, that'll stop them. Microsoft must be quaking in their shoes over the thought of going to court.

  2. This could be fun... by atcurtis · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Heh...

    It would be funny (and karmic justice) if Microsoft is definitely infringing on Sony's patents...

    Then Sony can do onto Microsoft what Microsoft did unto IBM.

    "Sure, Bill. We'll let you license our patents. On one condition - Knife the XBox and make no successors..."

    (ok, feel free to mod this as flamebait)

    --
    -- The universe began. Life started on a billion worlds...
    -- Except on one where stupidity was there first.
  3. Microsoft is in deep shoot. by rice_burners_suck · · Score: 0, Flamebait
    I hope Microsoft completely falls apart and goes out of business, leaving all businesses that believed their TCO lies in deep doodoo, leaving them only the option of upgrading to free software.

    I think Bill Gates is evil, IMHO. Proof: There was a photograph of him talking to the Antichrist himself, Bill Cliton. (No, that is not a typo, there is only one N in Cliton.)

    MS SUX. Linux ROOLZ!!!