Microsoft gets big patent verdict overturned

CNET ^ | September 29, 2009 8:18 PM PDT | Ina Fried

[SmokingJoe]

A federal court on Tuesday reversed an earlier ruling that Microsoft's product activation technology infringed on another company's patent, overturning a $388 million verdict in the case.

In a ruling on Tuesday, the court vacated the earlier decision and decided the case in Microsoft's favor.

"We are pleased that the court has vacated the jury verdict and entered judgment in favor of Microsoft," Microsoft spokesman Kevin Kutz said in a statement.

Tuesday's ruling is the latest twist in a case that has had plenty of them. Microsoft initially won a summary judgment ruling, which would have ended the case in its favor, but Uniloc appealed that ruling and a federal appeals court last year ruled that the case needed to go to trial with regard to two counts.

[SmokingJoe]

One patent troll slain. Let's move on swfitly to the next patent trolls, Canada's I4i, and see if they can be smashed as well.

[ShadowAce]

[NonValueAdded]

OK, a few points to Ina for hyperlinking the past articles but ... what is the reasoning behind the reversal??? Something this hugh and series, changing the flow of the patent litigation river, and we get not a clue?

[zeugma]

Good deal.I wish I could think that it heralds a new day of sanity in patent law, but I kinda doubt it.

[SmokingJoe]

“I wish I could think that it heralds a new day of sanity in patent law, but I kinda doubt it.”

You are right of course. So far as there are greedy lawyers who keep giving money to greedy and stupid politicians in the congress, we are not going to have any meaningful reforms of our patent laws. There will continue to be patent trolls out for a quick buck, long into the foreseeable future.

[SmokingJoe]

You are right. Ina Freid didn’t really delve into the text and the reasoning of the Appeals Court ruling at all. Maybe there will be an update later.

[US_MilitaryRules]

There is nothing like buying off a judge.

[Scythian]

Did you notice this dude in the image on the story ...

[SmokingJoe]

Well..don't even remind me of that “dude”.
I really don't know what to make of him/her.
First of all, he was a guy, the next thing we realized, he wasn't a guy anymore. Now he says he is woman after undergoing a “sex change”.
Unfortunately, he/she is the one in charge of covering most things Microsoft on CNET, so one can't really avoid reading his/her stuff.
Having said all that, Ina Fried is a pretty good reporter, and writes pretty good articles most of the time.
I just don't get how someone can be a man one minute, and a woman the next. It's really nuts if you ask me.

[Buckeye McFrog]

And did you realize, Your Honor, that we’ve had a secret back-door installed in all versions of Outlook since 1997??

[Still Thinking]

Alamogordo police pay $21,000 to settle open carry lawsuit

Ah, yes the Barney Frank Remote Procedure Call.

[Still Thinking]

And did you realize, Your Honor, that we’ve had a secret back-door installed in all versions of Outlook since 1997??

Ah, yes the Barney Frank Remote Procedure Call.

(Copy and Paste SNAFU on 11)