[ubuntu-za] Massive fine for Microsoft

[Dr. Johan P. Prinsloo]

Massive fine for Microsoft
Apr 09 2009 22:42

New York - Software giant Microsoft has been ordered to pay $388m in
damages for infringing on a patent designed to combat illegal copying of
software.

A jury in the District Court of Rhode Island found that Microsoft
violated a patent owned by anti-piracy software maker Uniloc Inc with
software designed to prevent unlicensed use of its Windows XP Windows
operating system and parts of its Office suite of products. The lawsuit
was originally filed in 2003 and the jury returned its decision on
Wednesday, according to court papers filed Thursday.

The patent in question is titled "System for Software Recognition," and
was filed in 1996. It covers a registration system that allows digital
data or software to be able to run only if an appropriate licensing
procedure has been followed.

In a statement Microsoft said it was disappointed in the verdict, and
planned to appeal.

"We believe that we do not infringe, that the patent is invalid and that
this award of damages is legally and factually unsupported," said a
Microsoft spokesperson in a statement. "We will ask the court to
overturn the verdict."

- Sapa-dpa

Source :
http://www.fin24.com/articles/default/display_article.aspx?Nav=ns&ArticleID=1518-1783_2499486