[Am-info] All your patents are belong to us

[John J. Urbaniak]

  http://www.computerworld.com/storyba/0,4125,NAV47_STO68482,00.html

States charge Microsoft used settlement to
                  squeeze PC makers


 BY JORIS EVERS, IDG NEWS SERVICE
(February 20, 2002)

Microsoft Corp. is benefiting from the proposed settlement with the U.S.
Department of Justice (DOJ) and nine  U.S. states by using it to impose
onerous licensing terms that squeeze PC makers out of their patent
rights,  several nonsettling states charged yesterday.

...

Based on the Feb. 8 deposition of Richard Fade, a  Microsoft senior vice
president, the states charged that the proposed settlement "has provided
a sword for  Microsoft to gather additional fruits and to reap a net
gain."

By referring to the proposed settlement, Microsoft was  able to impose
licensing terms on PC makers that give it free access to their patents.
These customers were  precluded from enforcing their patents against
Microsoft  because of a "nonassertion of patents" provision in the
licensing terms, the states said.