Microsoft Loses Patent Appeal
 

A federal appeals court has just ruled that Microsoft must pay more than $140 million for infringing on software patents owned by a Michigan-based technology company, z4 Technologies. The company had sued Microsoft and Autodesk, maker of drafting software, in 2004, claiming the technology they used to activate newly installed software and deter piracy infringed on patents created and owned by David Colvin, the owner of privately held z4. z4 argued that Microsoft's Windows XP and Office 2003 suite of productivity software used its patented method of asking computer users to supply two passwords, or authorization codes, before they could fully use new software.


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