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Patent verdict against Microsoft, Autodesk stands | |
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| Time: 08:15 EST/13:15 GMT | News Source: News.com | Posted By: Jonathan Tigner | ||
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A federal judge in Texas has delivered a setback to Microsoft and Autodesk in their patent infringement battle with product activation start-up Z4 Technologies. U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis turned down the software makers' request for a new trial in a patent infringement lawsuit filed by Z4 Technologies and awarded enhanced damages, ordering Microsoft and Autodesk to pay a combined total of $158 million. The initial suit was filed nearly two years ago by David Colvin, owner of Michigan-based Z4, over two product activation technologies. One of those technologies is designed to prevent unauthorized use of software; the other is used to combat piracy. | ||
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| #1 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 8/24/2006 9:37:43 AM |
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I notice that this article has been cleansed of the judge admonishing MS for being scumbags in court. Allow me to correct:
U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis upped a jury's award against Microsoft by $25 million, plus nearly $2 million in legal costs. He cited several instances of misconduct and "ample circumstantial evidence" that Microsoft viewed the patent-holder, closely held z4 Technologies, as "a small and irrelevant company that was not worthy of Microsoft's time and attention, even if Microsoft was potentially infringing its patents." And the response from the MS spokesweasel is priceless: "Obviously, we're disappointed," Microsoft spokesman Jack Evans said in an e-mail. "We believe that the facts in this case clearly show that Microsoft and others developed their own product activation technologies well before z4 Technologies claims to have created this technology." Yeah, right. It's always clear to MS that MS has done nothing wrong. Too bad for them it was clear to a judge that they're liars, cheats and thieves. |
| #2 By 2960 (68.101.39.180) at 8/24/2006 10:37:02 AM |
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Well, it's a dream but maybe the stuff will just go away now :)
-Larry |
| #3 By 32132 (64.180.219.241) at 8/24/2006 11:14:54 AM |
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http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/266187_msftpatent11.html?source=rss
"Colvin is a draftsman who makes drawings of inventions for patent applications and is a "tinkerer" on the side. He has obtained 35 patents, including 10 on wrenches sold in Sears stores, his lawyer said." "Microsoft and Autodesk both say they don't use Colvin's inventions and developed their own anti-piracy software before he filed his patent applications in 1998." "Colvin obtained the patents in 2000 and 2004." "In court documents, Z4 asked the judge to bar Microsoft and Autodesk from telling the jury that Colvin has no formal training in software development and from disparaging him as a "patent troll" seeking money from big corporations." This will be overturned on appeal. I personally used Autodesks activation technology in 1997/1998. And Office 97 had Activation. What a joke. This post was edited by NotParker on Thursday, August 24, 2006 at 11:23. |
| #4 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 8/24/2006 11:50:22 AM |
| #3: Yep, everything's a joke or Communist or aiding terrorism when it goes against poor Microsoft. |
| #5 By 32132 (64.180.219.241) at 8/24/2006 12:47:24 PM |
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Autodesk is EVIL too in coffee girls world.
coffee girl ... never lets someone bring facts to an argument if he can just chant the OSS mantra ... Bill Gates is SATAN! |
| #6 By 3746 (216.16.225.210) at 8/24/2006 1:43:08 PM |
| I agree with not parker here. I am no MS apologist but this is one reason why the patent system needs to be overhaulled. It is crazy that someone with no formal training can get a patent on something that he could never implement anyways. Getting a patent that is so vague in scope means that there will always be someone who falls undreneath it and could be sued. Plus that fact that patents were issued long after activation tech was already being used seems kind of dubious too. |
| #7 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 8/24/2006 2:27:09 PM |
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#5: In my world, also known as reality, Autodesk is just fine and you're a moron. There is no OSS mantra here, just the plain facts as stated by the article. This has nothing to do with open source, but that's never stopped you from spouting your anti-FOSS nonsense in any forum here.
#6: MS, having played this game LOTS over the years, should have been well aware of the law. MS is forever in the press crying about it's IP rights and blah blah blah, but they will happily steal from anyone they feel they can steamroll over. And this time they got caught. But of course it's not poor Microsoft's fault, it's the evil patent system tha forced MS to steal this guy's technology. Yeah, that's the ticket... |
| #8 By 9589 (68.208.163.214) at 8/24/2006 5:10:48 PM |
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Meanwhile, this just in . . . Apple pays $100m to settle Creative lawsuit over iPod menus Things really aren't going Apple's way just at the moment. It's having to restate its earnings going back some time because there are queries about some of its stock options having been backdated; iPod sales fell quarter-on-quarter; and now, it's decided not to fight Creative Labs in the lawsuit that the latter brought alleging that the iPod's menu system infringed Creative's patent, filed a few months before the first iPod appeared Apple, having played this game LOTS over the years, should have been well aware of the law. Apple is forever in the press crying about it's IP rights and blah blah blah, but they will happily steal from anyone they feel they can steamroll over. And this time they got caught. But of course it's not poor Apple's fault, it's the evil patent system tha forced Apple to steal this guy's technology. Yeah, that's the ticket... |
| #9 By 15406 (24.43.125.29) at 8/24/2006 7:16:18 PM |
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#8: They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...
I'm not sure what you're trying to say. Apple got slapped down too. If you're looking to goad me, I don't give a rat's ass about Apple. I used to own an Apple ][ back in the day, but Apple could vanish for all I care. I haven't followed that case, but a buddy mentioned that he was surprised Creative got a patent on a hierarchal menu system. |
| #10 By 32132 (64.180.219.241) at 8/27/2006 4:49:30 PM |
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"I used to own an Apple ][ back in the day ... " which was a couple of weeks ago. And then they thought so much of your work getting coffee for the real workers they chipped and bought you a PIII-500. A pity upgrade.
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| #11 By 15406 (216.191.227.68) at 8/29/2006 11:44:41 AM |
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#10: Your next upgrade will be the FryMaster 5000, assuming you pass the test.
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