Intellectual Property Law

Be Careful What You Wish For

By Posted by Alan Wexelblat

Microsoft wished for a new trial, but must not have asked nicely enough this time. Last time it was accused of infringing Alcatel-Lucent (digital music) patents it won, getting a negative verdict and large judgment thrown out. This time, however, Judge Marilyn L. Huff of the U.S. District Court in San Diego not only upheld the verdict, denying Microsoft's request for a new trial, she increased the penalty against the infringing software maker to a whopping USD 511.6 million in damages and interest.

Not surprisingly, Microsoft said it would appeal, meaning the five-year-long patent scuffle is likely to continue for years to come.

Full post as published by Copyfight - The Politics of IP on June 20, 2008 (boomark / email).