Burst.com and Microsoft Settle

prostoalex writes "Microsoft and Burst.com announced a tentative settlement, where Microsoft will pay Californian company $60 mln for allegedly stolen multimedia streaming software. Robert X. Cringely provided the recap of the court case back in 2003 (and Slashdot discussion ensued). According to Burst claims, Microsoft entered a non-disclosure agreement with the company to learn about Burst's multimedia streaming technology. Later the technology, for which Burst has 37 patents, has been found in Windows Media Player. When aksed to present the archives of the e-mails and all communications within the company for the trial, Microsoft somehow presented all the documents that preceded before the deal and the documents that followed it. The e-mails during the 35 weeks that negotiations were held mysteriously disappeared. In court Microsoft claimed the e-mails were erased from employee's desktops, e-mail servers and server backups. The technology was not interesting to Microsoft, lawyers insisted, so the electronic trail of communications was erased."

Comments

In other news

[Kipsaysso]

We have always been at war with Eurasia

Not Criminal, Civil

[DoorFrame]

"With settlements being the de facto standard response to criminal corporate behavoir."

Much like music piracy, this wasn't theft. It's not a legal issue per se, it's a civil issue. Hence why it was a lawsuit and not criminal investigation. Cash settlements don't usually end criminal investigations.

Re:A missing email!

[Anonymous Coward]

To: Bill
cc: Balmer

Re: (no subject)

Dear Software Architect,

I am Mr. Windows Media Player Department Head, a Lawyer by profession. I am the personal attorney to Mr. Department of Things That Actually Work The First Time Head, a national of your country, who used to work with MacroSoft in Nigeria, herein after shall be referred to as my client.

On the 21st of April 2000, my client, his wife and their only child were involved in a car accident along Lagos - Ibadan express road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives and their data.

Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy to locate any of my clients extended relatives. This has proved unsuccessful. I came to know about you through an enquiry I was making in the internet explorer, and I found out you shared the same OS with my client, which is why I have decided to contact you, in order to assist in repatriating the money and property left behind by my client before they get confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank.

Particularly, in a local commercial bank here where the deceased had an account valued at about US$ 15.5 Million Dollars, has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confisticated within the next ten official working days.

Since i have been unsuccessful in locating the relatives for over 2 years now I seek your consent to present you as the next of kin of the deceased since you have the same last name so that the proceeds of this account valued at US$15.5 Million Dollars can be paid to you and then you and me can share the money, on the ratio of 50% for me, and 50% for you.

I have all necessary legal documents that can be used to back up any claim we may make. All I require is your honest co-operation to enable us see this business through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.

Please get in touch with me by email and send to me your telephone and fax numbers to enable us discuss further about the details of this transaction.

Best regards, Windows Media Player Department Head

Re:A missing email!

[northcat]

Come on this is genuiney funny. Mod it up. (the one you can't see coz it's modded down as -1 offtopic)