CNET News: Two Cheers for Intellectual Property Law

"Samuel Johnson famously quipped that the prospect of death by hanging helps to concentrate a man's mind. Likewise, nothing is more effective at focusing attention on the arcane subject of patent law than a $1.52 billion jury verdict--in a case that could affect everyone who uses digital music.

"I refer, of course, to the recent verdict in the patent infringement case brought against Microsoft by Alcatel-Lucent. It will come as no surprise that Microsoft regards the decision as erroneous. For several reasons, including the fact that Microsoft already paid to license the technology at issue in the case, we are confident the verdict will be reversed..."

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