Microsoft "Finishes the Fight" in Xbox Live Lawsuit

Michael Grimm

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Feb 23, 2009
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Microsoft "Finishes the Fight" in Xbox Live Lawsuit


Following the announcement earlier this week that PalTalk was suing for alleged copyright infringement, Microsoft has settled out of court for an undisclosed amount.

Max Tribble, a PalTalk lawyer, made a statement today regarding the settlement: "The parties have settled the case, and PalTalk is quite pleased with the outcome". Microsoft spokesman David Bowermaster said it was an "amicable agreement" though neither side spoke of the actual dollar amount of the settlement.

PalTalk's $90 million lawsuit claimed they were due royalties from Xbox sales as a result of multiplayer technology used in Halo and Halo 2. The technology in question was apparently created MPath Interactive Inc., though Microsoft denies having used it in their Halo games, insisting they chose a different technology in development.

Microsoft also argued that $90 million was a ridiculous figure considering PalTalk bought the patents for the technology in question for $200,000. They also argued that the patents were primarily for technology pertaining to dial up internet, and as such were not applicable to the system used in the Halo games.

Of course Microsoft must have figured there was at least a shred of credibility to the claims if they were willing to settle, or maybe they just figured settling it would be cheaper than the inevitable legal fees. Unfortunately for Microsoft I've got a drawing in my 8th grade math notebook that sort of looks like Master Chief, so I'll be seeing you in court sometime soon, Mr. Gates.

Source: <a href="http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/403501_msftxbox13.html"
target="_blank">seattlepi.com (Via Kotaku)


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pha kin su pah

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Mar 26, 2008
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Brotherofwill said:
Buying yourself out of your trouble, the Microsoft philosophy of buisness.
It actually could have been a whole lot worse, ever see a huge corporation play hard ball? they are lucky they got anything, that aside whats with people and patents being a leech to society? for shame.
 

Arbre

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Jan 13, 2007
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s0ap sudz said:
More like the ONLY way of business...
Indeed. Many companies simply don't even have the money to defend themselves against any pseudo-lawful aggression. Only big ones can attack and shrug off such issues with greens.

No matter how you look at it, you're screwed. But I suppose, maybe, that if the financial sanction was proportionate to the company's cash, they might be much more careful. Of course, this would also put a great halt to exploitation of new ideas, as you'd fear to infringe on someone's god damned IP or patent the real reason the true high tech remains in the hands of a few and gets disclosed at a very steady pace, in order to milk any minor upgrade to unfathomable extents.

pyromcr said:
they are going to run out of money to get themselfs out of trouble one day...
Err... no.
 

Simriel

The Count of Monte Cristo
Dec 22, 2008
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pyromcr said:
they are going to run out of money to get themselfs out of trouble one day...
Run out of money? RICHEST MAN IN WORLD!
 

Doug

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Apr 23, 2008
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pyromcr said:
they are going to run out of money to get themselves out of trouble one day...
Maybe. But that doesn't seem to be any time soon.
 

oliveira8

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pyromcr said:
they are going to run out of money to get themselfs out of trouble one day...
More like when the Earth explodes...I bet by then they will have bank accounts in Jupiter...
 

Doug

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pyromcr said:
Doug said:
pyromcr said:
they are going to run out of money to get themselves out of trouble one day...
Maybe. But that doesn't seem to be any time soon.
bill gates left microsoft...
Er...no? At the time of writting, not sign of it on any of the news channels, and wikipedia still has him as chairman.
 

Doug

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Apr 23, 2008
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pyromcr said:
Doug said:
pyromcr said:
Doug said:
pyromcr said:
they are going to run out of money to get themselves out of trouble one day...
Maybe. But that doesn't seem to be any time soon.
bill gates left microsoft...
Er...no? At the time of writting, not sign of it on any of the news channels, and wikipedia still has him as chairman.
dude, this happened like in december.
http://news.softpedia.com/news/Bill-Gates-leaves-Microsoft-26738.shtml
wikipedia is not the most reliable source you know!!!
Yesterday, after the stock market had closed, Bill Gates, Microsoft's co-founder and president announced that he will step down from his position at Microsoft to focus on his philanthropic work at Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. His role in the software company will slowly diminish for the next couple of years as he will gradually relinquish his responsibilities.
He's not left per say, yet. He's withdrawing from the company later, after he's winded down his role, I assume from that.
 

Cousin_IT

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Feb 6, 2008
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Predictable outcome that no doubt PalTalk were hoping for rather then actually having to go to court
 

Filtertip

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Jan 30, 2009
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His role in the software company will slowly diminish for the next couple of years as he will gradually relinquish his responsibilities.
Hes leaving will be a while yet before hes gone for ever though.
 

sooperman

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Feb 11, 2009
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pimppeter2 said:
bet you they just gave the owners jobs
What does this even mean? I really don't think that Microsoft would employ anyone that was currently suing them, and I cannot imagine Bill Gates giving his position to anyone for a while now.
 

sooperman

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Feb 11, 2009
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Filtertip said:
His role in the software company will slowly diminish for the next couple of years as he will gradually relinquish his responsibilities.
Hes leaving will be a while yet before hes gone for ever though.
This is true, he is semi-retired, but he still holds the commanding stock in the company, worth $60B.
 

Pimppeter2

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Dec 31, 2008
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sooperman said:
pimppeter2 said:
bet you they just gave the owners jobs
What does this even mean? I really don't think that Microsoft would employ anyone that was currently suing them, and I cannot imagine Bill Gates giving his position to anyone for a while now.

The company sueing them was going out of biss, so they probably gave the owners jobs

They didnt give them jobs as owners