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Microsoft Loses South Korea Patent Ruling
mikesd81 writes "Ars Technica is carrying an article discussing Microsoft's denial for an appeal in a South Korean patent infringement case. The case focused on the automatic translation between English and Korean in Microsoft Office and was brought against the company in 2000. The Supreme Court of South Korea ruled that the patents are effective for technologies switching the input mode between Korean and English." From the article: "Technology firm P&IB, which sued Microsoft on behalf of Professor Lee, wants Microsoft to ante up to the tune of W70 billion ($75 million) in a separate lawsuit covering damages. 'Microsoft adapted our technologies to its Office package without dealing with Prof. Lee and it claimed the patents were not effective in the court,' P&IB President Kim Kil-hae told The Korea Times."
There is so much bad blood between South Korea and the U.S. over the current diplomatic situation with North Korea that it's really no suprise at all that the ultra-nationalistic Koreans have found an American company at fault for anything and everything.
The Roh administration has empaneled the Korean courts with like-minded ideologues who have either made a career of following his pronouncements to the letter or seen their careers evaporate in a swarm of controversy. With South Korea standing alone with North Korea against the rest of Asia and America (the other 4 members of the 6-party talks), the Korean nationalist spirit is once again invigorated.
The Koreans have long turned a blind eye to the faults and foibles of their own countrymen, holding up globally disgraced heroes as leaders. This latest backdoor attack on the "American hegemony" is nothing to be shocked by. On the contrary, if a Korean court were to find against a Korean company in an international dispute, that would certainly be news.