Microsoft and Autodesk lose patent case

MICROSOFT and Autodesk have been ordered to pay for nicking technology owned by Z4.

Z4 sued Microsoft and Autodesk in 2004, claiming the technology they used to activate newly installed software and deter piracy was its big idea.

Apparently David Colvin patented the idea of asking a computer user to supply two passwords or authorisation codes, before they could fully use new software.

Vole used the idea on its Windows XP and Office 2003 suite.

According to AP in April last year a federal jury in East Texas ordered Microsoft to pay $115 million to z4, plus attorney fees and $25 million for wilful patent infringement.

Despite the fact it came up with another idea for its later versions of Windows and Office, Vole said 'hang on a minute those patents are invalid' and appealed the decision.

A jury also ordered Autodesk to pay $18 million to z4 and it tried the same trick.

However the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit up held the lower court's decision in its entirety.

More here. µ