Last we heard, in
February Alcatel-Lucent won a $1.52 billion suit against Microsoft for infringement of its MP3 patents despite the fact that Redmond paid up $16 million to MP3 co-developer the Fraunhofer Institute. Well, even given the 7-1 vote in favor of Alcatel-Lucent leading to the previous federal ruling, presiding US District Judge Rudi Brewster overturned the suit in a 43 page legal novella
you absolutely must read, stating that one of the two patents wasn't infringed, and the other patent's infringement was in question anyway, due to the fact that Microsoft did, in fact, cough up those millions to Fraunhofer. Of course,
Alcatel-Lucent intends to appeal the decision just the same way Microsoft's previously appealed the original decision -- and with $1.52 billion at stake, we all know damned well this is going to go back and forth for, well, as long as it takes. Who really wins? The layers, obviously.
[Thanks, David and Mark]
posted Aug 7th 2007 2:43AM
The layers? Try lawyers.
or even 'liars' :P
Ogres have layers
No, I'm pretty sure it's layers. Someone's gonna end up screwed, and it's most likely us consumers.
Someone should patent air and charge everyone who breathes.
they will be taxing every drop of rain soon too...
why do I feel like that's a part of a song?
I already did that. Checks and money orders for one time fee can be sent to: steven air inc. Next for company will be rights to use of certain words, speech pattern, and using your hands when you talk.
Not air, but the process of breathing should be easy enough to patent. You could tax air and charge people to breathe - win win!
Layers? The onions win again.
Is Bill Gates still the richest person in the world?
Apparently not... http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6934418.stm
Yes, but can you put a price on worldwide influence? I don't think Mr. Slim's bottling, telephone, or retail chains in Mexico can hold a candle to Gates worldwide influence, no matter how much you love or hate Microsoft. And then, lets add the money Gates has donated...
Those damn layers always win :(
Somebody needs to flatten and merge those jerks!
That's one hell of an expensive suit.
It better be pinstripe.
I will use this opportunity to say something I have never said, and probably will never say again: Microsoft FTW!
For the must read brief, does anyone have a link?
Thank God MS won, it does matter. If they lost, the next stop would be Apple, and basically every OS and MP3 manufacturer after that...
On a completely unrelated note, you should *totally* see Judge Brewster's new Ferrari.
why not a parfait? Every loves a parfait.