REDMOND, Wash. and SANTA ROSA, Calif., March 11 2005 – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT) and Burst.com, Inc. (OTC: BRST) today announced that the two companies have reached an agreement in principle resolving all claims in Burst’s lawsuit against Microsoft. Microsoft will pay
$60 million to Burst for the settlement of all claims and for a non-exclusive
license (without sub-license rights) to Burst’s patent portfolio. Burst’s
lawsuit, originally filed in June of 2002, asserted patent, trade secret and
antitrust claims.
“While we were confident of prevailing in this lawsuit, we have been open
from the beginning to finding a reasonable way to resolve this case,” said Tom
Burt, corporate vice president and deputy general counsel for Microsoft.
“Securing a license to the Burst patent portfolio through this settlement
allows us to focus on the continued development and deployment of Windows
Media technologies to deliver the ultimate media experience to our partners
and customers.”
Burst stated that the patent license resolves the litigation with
Microsoft and validates the Burst patents as pioneering intellectual property.
Burst Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO, Richard Lang, explained that, “We spent
over a decade developing and patenting the technology in anticipation of the
markets that are now emerging. Microsoft taking a license validates the
innovation of the burst technology embodied in the underlying patent
portfolio. With this action behind us, the company can now focus on its other
opportunities.”
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services
and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.
About Burst
Founded in 1988, burst.com has pioneered the development of
Faster-Than-Real-Time(TM) video and audio delivery. burst.com has built an
international patent portfolio covering bursting, video delivery scheduling
and rapid casting.
