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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