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View Full Version : InterTrust Sues Microsoft

Janak Parekh
12-24-2002, 12:24 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.fortune.com/fortune/print/0,15935,400412,00.html' target='_blank'>http://www.fortune.com/fortune/prin...,400412,00.html</a><br /><br /></div>I guess we should make December the official "sue Microsoft" month. ;) InterTrust holds a substantial number of patents on DRM-related technologies and claims that Microsoft has been infringing them for some time, especially for their Windows Media-based DRM technologies. In fact, InterTrust is currently claiming a whopping 144 counts of infringment, and if even one is upheld it would mean tremendous damage costs for MS.<br /><br />This gets even more interesting when you consider the fact that Sony and Philips are trying to buy the company. High-stakes patent fights and negotiations are likely to ensue. I don't know whether this is a good or bad thing, but I can easily say that the courts and lawyers will be very busy for some time to come.
ubiquityman
12-24-2002, 12:37 AM
As much I like PPC, I do have to admit that Microsoft is extremely underhanded in their business dealings.

It would appear to me that no beating is going to be big enough to discipline Microsoft.
Jonathan1
12-24-2002, 12:58 AM
Not to be too bitter about it but anything that deals MS a bad hand with it comes to DRM is all good with me. I'm one of those DRM = 666 type people. Plague, locusts, the building that designs DRM burns down. Its cool.
TzviYosef
12-24-2002, 01:04 AM
Jonathan1

In this case the building that designed DRM is doing the suing..

To use your plague comparison, InterTrust designed the illness, Microsoft unleased it.

Who do you root for? Where does the blame fall? The creators or the ones who set it free?

I have no real comment on this matter, just wanted to leave that thought to ponder.
Janak Parekh
12-24-2002, 05:39 AM
Who do you root for? Where does the blame fall? The creators or the ones who set it free?
Precisely. If InterTrust wins, and someone like Sony buys them out, you're talking industrywide DRM that profits Sony with each item sold. You'd hope that would slow DRM adoption by others, but I doubt it.

--janak