Court drops Microsoft's 1.5 billion dollar fine

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2007

SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) — A US judge ruled Monday that Microsoft doesn't have to pay Alcatel-Lucent 1.5 billion dollars, overturning a jury verdict that promised to shake up the digital music industry.

US Senior District Court Judge Rudi Brewster sided with Microsoft in its appeal of a verdict in a lawsuit filed against the US software giant by the French firm.

Brewster issued a written ruling "in favor of Microsoft and against Lucent ... terminating the case," according to court documents.

"Today's ruling by the judge reversing the jury's 1.52 billion dollar verdict against Microsoft is a victory for consumers of digital music and a triumph for common sense in the patent system," said Microsoft general counsel Brad Smith.

The trial that ended in US...