Microsoft to pay Burst $60M
p2pnet.net News:- Proving that it pays to hang in, after a long-running battle, Microsoft has settled with Burst.com, a small software company that said the Microsoft Corona streaming media product uses technologies and trade secrets misappropriated from Burst.com.
Microsoft has agreed to pay a one-time license fee of $60 million.
The license is, “for use only by Microsoft in its own product and does not include sub-licensing rights,” says Burst.
“The patent license also settles the outstanding litigation between both companies.”
Burst ceo Richard Lang says among other things, after paying off the lawyers, the company will use the money to pay off current and long term liabilities (approximately $2.8 million), “which includes promissory notes (secured and unsecured), outstanding payables, debts to former employees of the company and all accrued salaries and bonuses”.
It’ll also launch a, “vigorous ongoing enforcement of its patent rights against all infringing parties, as well as pursuing software licensing and other avenues available to the Company to maximize the return to Burst shareholders”.
At one point, Bill and the Boyz were accused of telling employees to destroy evidence relating to its alleged patent and antitrust violations.
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See:-
Burst.com – Microsoft Corp. Licenses Burst.com Patents & Settles Suit, March 11, 2005
destroy evidence – MS destroyed evidence: claim, p2pnet, November 18, 2004
