Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/05/lucent_sues_microsoft/
Microsoft's Xbox 360 console contains illegally used technology, Lucent alleged last week - and filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the software giant to back up its claim. It is seeking unspecified damages and a jury trial.
The complaint, filed with the US District Court in San Diego on 28 March, alleges the Xbox 360's MPEG 2 decoder uses techniques outlined in patent number 5,227,878, which is owned by Lucent and details an system for "adaptive coding and decoding of frames and fields of video". Microsoft, said Lucent's suit, does not have permission to use this technology.
Lucent said it had notified Microsoft of the alleged infringement, but the console company did not suspend sales of the Xbox 360 or, presumably, offer to license the technology for a royalty acceptable to Lucent.
Lucent sued Microsoft in 2003 for infringement of the same patent, but the software giant was able to persuade the judge to throw out the case because of a typo in the patent's wording. Lucent has since edited the text, and is now having another go at prosecuting Microsoft. ®
Microsoft sued over alleged Xbox 360 disc damage (13 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/13/lawsuit_xbox360_disc_scratches/
Alcatel slaps Microsoft with patent infringement claim (22 November 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/11/22/alcatel_microsoft_ip_claim/
Lucent to cull 9,000 staff (11 July 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/07/11/lucent_job_cull/
Lucent signs six new disties (12 June 2006)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2006/06/12/lucent_goes_two_tier/
Microsoft countersues Lucent (16 May 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/05/16/microsoft_lucent_patents/
Xmas debut for Xbox 360 HD DVD drive (10 May 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/05/10/ms_shows_xbox_360_hddvd_drive/
No worldwide Revolution launch? (3 April 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/03/no_worldwide_revolution_launch/
Online to be next gen console battlefield (27 March 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/03/27/online_to_be_next_gen_console_battlefield/
Transmeta confirms Microsoft partnership (22 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/22/transmeta_confirms_ms_deal/
Microsoft ups XBox 360 shipments (22 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/22/xbox_numbers_up/
Handheld Xbox: third time lucky for MS iPod killer scheme? (21 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/21/ms_ipod_killer_speculation/
More PS3 details emerge (20 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/20/more_ps3_deatils_emerge/
Net video confirms Xbox 360 hack (20 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/20/xbox_360_hack_video/
Sony delays PlayStation 3 (15 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/15/sony_delays_ps3/
Amazon.co.uk Xbox 360 order cancellations a 'mistake' (22 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/22/amazon_uk_xbox360_mistake/
Xbox dearth takes edge off Microsoft's record quarter (27 January 2006)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/01/27/microsoft_q2_06_earnings/
MS says no to Xbox 360 Blu-ray support (18 January 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/01/18/ms_says_no_xbox_360_blu-ray/