“The justices said Monday they will not intervene in Microsoft’s legal fight with Alcatel-Lucent,” AP reports. “The disputed patent covers a method of entering information into fields on a computer screen without using a keyboard.”
AP reports, “The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit already has ordered the trial court to reconsider the $358 million in damages the jury awarded to Alcatel-Lucent.”
Full article here.
Related articles:
The twisted story behind MP3 patents and Alcatel-Lucent’s $1.52 billion judgment against Microsoft – February 26, 2007
Are MP3 patents really in upheaval after Alcatel-Lucent’s verdict over Microsoft? – February 23, 2007
Alcatel-Lucent’s landmark MP3 victory over Microsoft paves way to demand royalties from Apple? – February 23, 2007
Microsoft ordered to pay Alcatel-Lucent $1.52 billion for Windows Media Player patent infringement – February 22, 2007
Umm … “hurray”?
Is this a “real” patent or one of those wish-list items dreamed up by people with no product in mind and no thought of using it outside of court?
I haven’t read the patent (not that it’s such an impediment to my question below, most are written to be as vague and broad as possible). But I have to wonder if Apple is next on Alcatel-Lucent’s list.
Aren’t 1989 patents in the public domain already (as in 2006)?
I believe Alcatel-Lucent genesis was Bells Labs, and are not to be trifled with. . . . You remember television and the transistor, don’t you?
TB They may be public domain now, but how long has this been in court? I would expect more than a decade.
US patents have a life of 17 years. There are ways to renew the patent with significant improvements. But typically that’s the end date.
If the infringement took place during that 17 years, however long ago, it is still suable.
This does not sound like a ‘submarine’ patent suit seeing as the patent remains with the people who filed it.
Alcatel-Lucent – R&D;heavy hitters compared to Microsoft, or most other Companies. Microsoft “borrowed” from so many over the years that it would be nice to see them have to face up to their theft for a change.