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Microsoft, Autodesk Guilty of Patent Infringement

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the i'm-patenting-breathing-that's-okay-right dept.

rfunches writes "A Texas jury has awarded $133 million in damages to David Colvin, after finding Microsoft and Autodesk guilty of infringing upon Colvin's two software patents for software antipiracy protection. Colvin's company, z4 Technologies Inc., filed patents for 'passwords and codes assigned to individual software copies to prevent unauthorized copies.' Microsoft was ordered to pay $115 million, and Autodesk $18 million for infringement of the product-activation schemes. A spokesman from Microsoft contends that 'Microsoft developed its own product-activation technologies well before z4 Technologies filed for its patent.' Appeals are expected."

2 of 212 comments (clear)

  1. What? by Bob+McCown · · Score: 5, Funny

    I remember password and/or code protected software on the earliest PCs, the Amiga, everything! How the hell is this patentable? Oh wait, its the US Patent Office, nevermind.

  2. Re:Live By The Sword, Die By The Sword by figleaf · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sure. But Microsoft Patents are defensive patents.
    They have never sued anyone for patent infringement. But have beenm on the recieving end for the stupidest of patent.