Microsoft countersues Lucent in XBox spat

THE XBOX patent lawsuit case that Lucent slapped on Microsoft has just got a bit messier after Vole countersued.

Lucent claims that Vole nicked its patented technology for decoding MPEG-2 video files and used it its Xbox 360 games console.

Vole not only denies nicking the technology, it says that Lucent's patent is invalid anyway because the outfit failed to disclose 'prior art' when it made its application to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Volish briefs have sued Lucent for infringing several Microsoft patents. The software outfit's chief brief said that Lucent was choosing to litigate rather than engaging in "meaningful license negotiations."

If the case ever does come to court, then it could be so long before either side wins that the XBox360 will be just a dim and distant memory. µ