MetaFilter posts tagged with Microsoft and lawsuit

The software patent cold war is getting less cold

finite — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 05:26:56 -0800

[Patent Lawsuit Filter] On Wednesday Sun Microsystems announced a counter suit against Network Appliance, wherein they will draw on their "defensive portfolio" which is "one of the largest patent arsenals on the internet". They are going to be requesting a permanent injunction to remove all of NetApp's filer products from the marketplace, and also seeking monetary damages (half of which they've pledged to donate to the Software Freedom Law Center and Peer to Patent Project). Last month, NetApp sued Sun for patent infringements in ZFS. Earlier this month in Texas, the first ever patent infringement lawsuit against Linux distributors was filed. The plaintiff in the case against Red Hat and Novell is IP Innovation and Technology Licensing, a company that successfully got some money from Apple with a similar claim earlier this year. They're owned by Acacia Technologies, a company with close ties to Microsoft, which has caused some to suggest that this suit might be more about spreading FUD than about securing licensees for patents. The Sun/NetApp case is less clear-cut. In September, the founder of Network Appliance (Dave Hitz) announced on his blog that they were suing Sun for patent infringement, explaining that "Sun has been using its patent portfolio as a profit center. About 18 months ago, Sun’s lawyers contacted NetApp with a list of patents they say we infringe, and requested that we pay them lots of money." Sun's CEO (Jonathan Schwartz) replied on his blog, thanking NetApp for suing them and saying that "Sun did not approach NetApps about licensing any of Sun's patents and never filed complaints against NetApps or demanded anything." Dave replies that he is stunned by Jonathan's response, in a post titled "Sun Patent Team Demanded $36 Million From NetApp". After this, their blogs went silent on the subject for a few weeks. Then, Jonathan announced the counter suit (the first link in the fpp), and Dave responded with two more blog entries. Groklaw has reason to believe Microsoft is also involved in this case.

MikeRoweSoft Settles with Microsoft

fenriq — Mon, 26 Jan 2004 10:57:59 -0800

MikeRoweSoft Settles with Microsoft for an XBox
Mike Rowe had a website named after himself that was alot like the mega-corp.
MS wanted to give him $10 to change the domain, he wanted $10k. They settled on a trip to Redmond, some traffic redirection and an XBox.

Followup to this thread.

Slicing off the spam

apocalypse miaow — Tue, 17 Jun 2003 22:48:29 -0800

So... Microsoft sue some spammers. Isn't this an unique case of the nut trying to hit back at the sledgehammer?

The Death of Netscape?

timeistight — Sat, 31 May 2003 09:39:42 -0800

AOL and Microsoft settle AOL's Netscape lawsuit. AOL gets $750 million and keeps IE as its default browser for seven years. Is this the death of Netscape?

plemeljr — Wed, 23 Jan 2002 05:23:52 -0800

Fed Up? Happy? Excited? Step right up and add your comments to the Microsoft Antitrust Trial. Due to the Tunney Act, all of us have the right to comment on the proceedings. The comment period closes Monday morning (the 28th) so if you have an opinion, and we know everyone here does, email/snail mail/call the DOJ.

pmurray63 — Fri, 11 Jan 2002 13:16:44 -0800

Judge kills Microsoft private suit settlement that would have had MS donate hundreds of millions of dollars worth of software to schools... and effectively killed any incentive to use non-MS products such as a Macintosh or Linux.

riffola — Fri, 02 Nov 2001 10:01:08 -0800

Microsoft signs consent decree with the US government to settle antitrust case. Settlement is fair, reasonable and good for consumers; It is time now to focus on challenges ahead for the industry and Economy, says Gates.

misterioso — Tue, 09 Oct 2001 13:04:20 -0800

U.S. Supreme Court denies Microsoft's appeal. Is anyone else surprised how long these U.S. v. Microsoft trials have gone on? Is there an end in sight? The longer the courts (and both parties) drag this on, the more moot this case will become.

Steven Den Beste — Thu, 06 Sep 2001 07:57:17 -0800

Microsoft wins!!!

Steven Den Beste — Tue, 10 Oct 2000 22:01:11 -0800

Some people don't know when to keep their mouths shut. You'd think a judge of such long experience would know better. (Also this.)

jjg — Sat, 17 Jul 1999 17:58:13 -0800

I wonder if Microsoft's acquittal in the Bristol case is a bad omen for the DOJ.