Microsoft Wins Reversal of $388 Patent Infringement Penalty

By Geoff Duncan
September 30, 2009

Microsoft has convinced a judge to throw out a jury verdict that awarded Uniloc $388 million for infringing on antipiracy patents in Windows XP and Microsoft Office.

Back in April, a Rhode Island jury award Uniloc and its Singapore-based parent company some $388 million in damages, finding the Microsoft infringed on Uniloc's antipiracy technology in Windows XP and Microsoft Office. Uniloc had been seeking $194 million in damages, but the jury doubled the damage award, presumably finding the Microsoft's conduct in the dispute. The finding was one of the largest damage awards ever laid down in a civil case.

Now, Microsoft has managed to get the whole $388 million bill tossed: U.S District Judge William Smith has nullified the jury decision, meaning Microsoft won't have to pay a dime.

The case stems from 2003, when patent holder Ric Richardson showed his patented technology to Microsoft under an ...

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