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Microsoft Ordered To Pay $388 Million In Patent Case
jeffmeden writes "BusinessWeek reports today that Microsoft suffered a loss in federal court Monday. The judge rendering the verdict ordered Microsoft to pay $388 Million in damages for violating a patent held by Uniloc, a California maker of software that prevents people from illegally installing software on multiple computers. Uniloc claims Microsoft's Windows XP and some Office programs infringe on a related patent they hold. It's hard to take sides on this one, but one thing is certain: should the verdict hold up, it will be heavily ironic if the extra copies of XP and Office sold due to crafty copy protection end up not being worth $388 million."
Every other news outlet says $388M: http://news.google.com/news?q=Uniloc so I guess PC World is probably wrong
Negative moral value of force outweighs the positive value of good intentions.
Microsoft are the richest corporation on the planet (to my knowledge)
Not even close. 1/2 the size of Exxon, smaller than Walmart or Procter & Gamble.
Microsoft are the richest corporation on the planet (to my knowledge) but their income is fading. They are losing money hand over fist for all sorts of reasons.
What are you talking about? Last year, MSFT's total revenue was $60 billion, compared to $51 billion for FY07. Gross profit was $48.8 billion versus $40.4 billion. And, net income was $17.7 billion versus $14 billion. Their income is not fading. And, they aren't losing money hand over fist.
... and that's when the C.H.U.D.'s came at me.