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Courts fine Microsoft $1.5 Billion for mp3 licensing dispute

By Justin Mann

On February 22, 2007, 4:21 PM

Alcatel-Lucent has been awarded $1.5 Billion, to be paid by Microsoft. Based on every Windows PC sold since May 2003, the jury agreed that Microsoft violated patents owned by Alcatel-Lucent that related to the mp3 audio format. Microsoft disagrees with the verdict, claiming they already licensed it well enough through Fraunhofer. Thomson, the copmany that handles licensing of mp3 for Fraunhofer, is concerned that this decision will lead to further legal action:

"Therefore, today's outcome is disappointing for us and for the hundreds of other companies who have licensed MP3 technology," Burt said. "We are concerned that this decision opens the door for Alcatel-Lucent to pursue action against hundreds of other companies who purchased the rights to use MP3 technology from Fraunhofer, the industry-recognized rightful licensor."
Microsoft isn't taking it laying down, however, and has countersued. They likely will continue to be at each others throats for a while yet.

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5 comments

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  1. February 22, 2007 6:47 PM
    Gamingmage said:
    why do they always have to go after the big corporations? its so stupid...
    Reply
  2. February 22, 2007 9:56 PM
    canadian said:
    Because they are targets, and no one feels bad about it.
    Reply
  3. February 23, 2007 1:33 AM
    swker98 said:
    " why do they always have to go after the big corporations? its so stupid..."Also its because they have the most money
    Reply
  4. February 23, 2007 2:21 PM
    nathanskywalker said:
    [quote]$1.5 Billion, to be paid by Microsoft. [/quote]And MS casually hands them a check as if it were nothing
    Reply
  5. February 24, 2007 1:25 AM
    Gamingmage said:
    but still they worked hard to get there i mean bill gates wasn't born into money and able to do raise this empire as if it were nothing either so why punish a product of the American dream? i mean if u had a business that was this successful u wouldn't want people suing u just hoping to get money out of u...would u?
    Reply

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