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$338M Patent Ruling Against Microsoft Overturned

Posted by Soulskill on from the courts-just-like-making-work-for-themselves dept.

some_guy_88 writes "The $338 million verdict against Microsoft for violating a patent held by Uniloc has now been overturned. 'Ric Richardson ... is the founder of Uniloc, which sued Microsoft in 2003 for violating its patent relating to technology designed to deter software piracy. The company alleged Microsoft earned billions of dollars by using the technology in its Windows XP and Office programs. In April, a Rhode Island jury found Microsoft had violated the patent and told Microsoft to pay the company $388 million, one of the largest patent jury awards in US history. But on Tuesday ... US District Judge William Smith "vacated" the jury's verdict and ruled in favor of Microsoft.' In his ruling, Smith said the jury 'lacked a grasp of the issues before it and reached a finding without a legally sufficient basis (PDF).'"

2 of 238 comments (clear)

  1. "cheaper" judge by bb5ch39t · · Score: 1, Troll

    Must have cost MS less than 388 Million, I guess. I "love" it when a judge vacates a jury by basically saying: "They're idiots."

  2. Re:Translation by andymadigan · · Score: 1, Troll

    Patents won't protect you against a troll, they'll only protect you against people who actually make software. Stop astroturfing.

    --
    The right to protest the State is more sacred than the State.