Judge Dismisses Microsoft MP3 Patent Case

Last week we talked about the $1.52 billion patent case that Microsoft lost to Alcatel-Lucent. However, upon further examination, a San Diego based Federal Judge at the District Court level tossed the case saying that no infringement had taken place.

Microsoft had asked the judge last week for a summary judgment in the patent-infringement case that was to go to trial this month, and the judge granted that yesterday.

It was believed to be the largest patent-infringement damage award in history in the case that the former Lucent Technologies first filed against Microsoft and partners Dell Inc. and Gateway Inc. in 2003. Many believe the decision could put other companies that use MP3 technology at risk for patent-infringement claims from Alcatel-Lucent.

Computer World
Engadget
Ars
C|Net