Patent central to Microsoft case invalidated

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2004 19:10:19 -0500
To: undisclosed-recipient:;
From: Monty Solomon <monty () roscom com>
Subject: Patent central to Microsoft case invalidated

     Patent central to Microsoft case invalidated
     - Mar 5, 2004 05:48 PM (Reuters)

By Reed Stevenson


SEATTLE, March 5 (Reuters) - The U.S. Patent and Trademark
Office has invalidated a claim to Web browser technology
central to a case against Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT), a move that
could spare the software giant from paying more than half a
billion dollars in damages, according to documents obtained on
Friday.


The patent agency's preliminary decision, if upheld, also
means that Microsoft will not be required to make changes to
its Internet Explorer Web browser that would have crippled the
program's ability to work with mini-programs that work over the
Internet, such as the Quicktime and Flash media players.


Last year, an Illinois jury delivered a $521 million
verdict against Microsoft for infringing on technology
developed by a privately held firm, Eolas Technologies Inc.,
and the University of California.

...

     - http://finance.lycos.com/home/news/story.asp?story=40766065

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