While Microsoft Corp. has reached a
$440 million settlement with InterTrust Technologies Corp. around digital rights management patents, it is far from clearing the slate of patent-infringement claims against it. Microsoft, the world's largest software maker, remains a major patent target. It is battling between 30 and 35 ongoing patent cases that cover everything from the automatic starting of an application in Windows to the sending of Web alerts. And it is facing more patent claims against it than in the past. Just 18 months ago, it had 20-some patent cases against it, company spokesman Jim Desler said.
"There's been an increase for Microsoft but also an industrywide increase," Desler said. "We think part of that is the phenomenon that many companies that did not survive the burst of the dot-com bubble were left with nothing but a portfolio of patents" from which to make money. While fighting claims that it views as frivolous or invalid, Microsoft also has followed a strategy of settling claims when it believes the patent is valid or that the litigation is hurting its moves into a new market, said Matt Rosoff, an analyst at Directions on Microsoft in Kirkland, Wash. InterTrust is the most recent example: The settlement made sense for Microsoft because the company wants to aggressively expand its DRM offerings and DRM features in Windows, Rosoff said.
News source: eWeek
$440 million settlement with InterTrust Technologies Corp. around digital rights management patents, it is far from clearing the slate of patent-infringement claims against it. Microsoft, the world's largest software maker, remains a major patent target. It is battling between 30 and 35 ongoing patent cases that cover everything from the automatic starting of an application in Windows to the sending of Web alerts. And it is facing more patent claims against it than in the past. Just 18 months ago, it had 20-some patent cases against it, company spokesman Jim Desler said.
"There's been an increase for Microsoft but also an industrywide increase," Desler said. "We think part of that is the phenomenon that many companies that did not survive the burst of the dot-com bubble were left with nothing but a portfolio of patents" from which to make money. While fighting claims that it views as frivolous or invalid, Microsoft also has followed a strategy of settling claims when it believes the patent is valid or that the litigation is hurting its moves into a new market, said Matt Rosoff, an analyst at Directions on Microsoft in Kirkland, Wash. InterTrust is the most recent example: The settlement made sense for Microsoft because the company wants to aggressively expand its DRM offerings and DRM features in Windows, Rosoff said.
News source: eWeek
** 36 Windows XP Pre-Service Pack 2 Critical Updates
** 29 Windows XP Pre-Service Pack 2 Recommended Updates
** 06 Internet Explorer Updates
** 02 Outlook Express Updates
** Bootvis Tool (version 1.3.37)
** Euro Conversion Tool
** MSN Messenger 6.1.0211 w/ Option to uninstall Windows Messenger 4.7
** Windows Messenger 5.0.0482 (if you chose not to install MSN Messenger)
** Microsoft Virtual Machine w/ 2 Updates
** Sun Java 1.4.2_04 (for those running SP1a or SP1)
** Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer 1.2
** Microsoft Data Access Components 2.8 w/ 1 Update
** Microsoft DirectX 9.0b w/ 1 Update & Optional Control Panel Shortcut
** Microsoft Jet 4.0 Service Pack 8
** Microsoft Jet 4.0 Service Pack 8 Replication Update
** Microsoft .NET Framework 1.1 w/ 1 Update
** Microsoft SharePoint Migration Tool
** Microsoft Windows Journal Viewer
** Windows XP PowerToys (including 8 Bonus Powertoys)
** Microsoft XML 3.0 SP4
** Microsoft XML 4.0 SP2
** Windows Media Player 9 w/ Update to Build 3093 & 8 other Updates & Enhancements
** Windows Movie Maker 2.0
** Windows Rights Management Client 1.0
** 3D Windows XP ScreenSaver
** Adaptec ASPI Layer for Windows XP
** Bliss Screensaver
** Microsoft American Flag ScreenSaver
** Device Manager Shortcut to All Programs Menu
** Desktop Icon Restore Tool
** Windows Media Player Classic version 6.4.7.5
** Microsoft Virtual CD Tool
** Google Toolbar
** Ink Redist
** PortReporter Tool
** Euro Fonts Update
** Hive Cleanup tool
** Ability to remove ASP.Net Uset Account
** Ability to remove all Windows XP ScreenSavers
** Ability to remove all Win9x based Wallpapers
** Ability to remove all Windows XP Wallpapers
** IE Spy-Ad
** Optional Internet Explorer Spellcheck tool
** System Uptime Tool
** Macromedia Flash Player
** Macromedia Shockwave Player
** MSN Plus 2.5.4
** Neowin Screensaver (XP logon Hack)
** Microsoft NZ Bliss Wallpaper
** Option to replace update 8-Bit Shutdown and Logoff Icons on Windows Classic Theme
** Startup Monitor
** Startup CPL
** UxTheme.dll Patcher (so you can use custom themes)
** 60 Registry Tweaks
** And Much More!!
Law isn't "bullying" It's law. The law on trademarks is that you must challenge all likenesses of your trademark otherwise you run the risk of losing your trademark. "mikerowesoft" ... even if you think it's a a clear infringement or not ... had to be challenged, and Microsoft was only protecting its own assets by doing so.
Patent infringement is a very tricky problem in the technical industry. As it's been said before, it's sometimes better to settle and move on than let it stretch out into technical hell. Look at Sun.
Commenting has either been disabled on this article or you are not logged in. Click here to login or register, its free!
Note: Anonymous commenting is disabled in order to keep the quality of responses to a high standard.