Close Call: Microsoft Dodges $388 Million Adverse Verdict
Microsoft has prevailed in its appeal from a $388 million dollar penalty levied against it in a patent infringement case. Uniloc, a California security software company, filed a lawsuit in 2003 against the software giant, claiming that Microsoft infringed on its patent for an antipiracy software-registration system.
Judge William Smith, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island, overturned the initial decision and held that Microsoft does not have to pay any damages to Uniloc. The award would have been among the biggest ever granted in an American civil patent action.
Usually computer software is protected by copyright law, so this is a unique case in which a patent was issued. We don’t have all the facts, so it’s hard to draw any conclusions, but I find myself pulling for the little guy!
A thoughtful patent attorney can ensure that your rights aren’t bulldozed by big business.
