Microsoft and Burst.com Settle Outstanding Litigation and Enter Into Licensing Agreement
March 11 2005 - 7:19PM
PR Newswire (US)
Microsoft and Burst.com Settle Outstanding Litigation and Enter
Into Licensing Agreement REDMOND, Wash. and SANTA ROSA, Calif.,
March 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- 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. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO ) "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. NOTE:
Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the
United States and/or other countries. Burst.com is a registered
trademark of Burst.com Inc. in the United States and/or other
countries. The names of actual companies, products and technologies
mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Microsoft Corp. CONTACT:
print and online media only, Rapid Response Team, of Waggener
Edstrom, +1-503-443-7070, or , or global electronic media only,
Media Relations, Worldwide Communications & Television,
+1-212-445-8220, or , both for Microsoft Corp.; or financial
analysts only, Curt Anderson of Microsoft Investor Relations,
+1-425-706-3703 Web site: http://www.burst.com/ Web site:
http://www.microsoft.com/
Copyright