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Largest Ever Patent Ruling Overturned, Microsoft Saves $388 Million

Posted 09/30/09 at 09:24:27 AM  by Paul Lilly

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Talk about tough luck for Uniloc, who sued Microsoft for patent infringement and was awarded an unprecedented $388 million verdict by a jury in April. But Microsoft won't have to pay Uniloc a dime, as Judge William Smith of the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island overturned the ruling this week, clearing Microsoft of any wrong doing.

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

First filed six years ago, Irvine, California-based Unloc USA and Singapore-based parent company accused Microsoft of using its patented technology for software activation. Specifically, the companies laid claimed to the use of a software activation key to keep users from installing licensed software on multiple PCs

Image Credit: MoneyWise

COMMENTS:8
TAGS: microsoft, legal, law, patent, court, unlock
COMMENTS
avatarMonay monay monay monayy........Monayyyy

Submitted by Black Lable 69 on Wed, 09/30/2009 - 9:49pm

Globalization=being more careful with
every step to not add more money to everyone else coffers.

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avatarI wonder

Submitted by xSc0pE on Wed, 09/30/2009 - 4:06pm

Why the judge all of a sudden changed his mind.... hmm..................

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avatarAnother big issue with the

Submitted by Fiercedeity on Wed, 09/30/2009 - 3:17pm

Another big issue with the heck a jury was allowed to determine the fine for this case. What in the world does the jury know about patent law and economics that allows them to determine the value of the award (if any). Are they really even educated on this subject? If not, why are we letting uninformed people decide the actual amounts?

 Obviously, as shown in this case, the Jamie Thomas and the Tennanbaum case, the juries really got in wrong. How much more of this absurdity needs to happen before we realize that before we let these people decide things in court, that they need to be impartially educated about the subjects first?

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avatarUniloc's comment

Submitted by Productivity-im... on Wed, 09/30/2009 - 6:12pm

"We are disappointed by the decision the trial judge has made to overturn the jury's unanimous verdict in Uniloc's patent infringement case against Microsoft," Davis said in a statement sent to seattlepi.com. "We believe that the jury's verdict in April was thoughtful, well reasoned and supported by the evidence presented. Since the patent status remains unchanged, Uniloc will continue to protect its intellectual property and appeal the Judge's decision to override the jury's verdict to the US Court of Appeals. We are confident that Uniloc will ultimately prevail."

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avatar Judge William Smith? Is

Submitted by nekollx on Wed, 09/30/2009 - 8:57am

 Judge William Smith?

Is our Editor in Cheif moonlighting?

------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.

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avatarScore one for microsoft!

Submitted by Xylogeist on Wed, 09/30/2009 - 7:38am

Score one for microsoft! Booya!

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avatarPeople shouldn't be allowed

Submitted by rseding91 on Wed, 09/30/2009 - 6:59am

People shouldn't be allowed to patent ideas as vague and often used as that.

If they keep allowing stupid patents like this someone is going to try to patent walking, or some random thing.

"Your breathing to fast, I patented breathing faster then X breaths per minute"

There are to many stupid patents.

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avatarOr blinking for that matter.

Submitted by DBsantos77 on Wed, 09/30/2009 - 7:48am

Or blinking for that matter. Lol

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