Eolas vs. Microsoft Lawsuit Settled and Sealed

theodp writes "The Seattle P-I's Todd Bishop reports that Microsoft has settled its 8-year-old web browser plug-in patent dispute with Eolas. The spat begat the click-to-activate Web after Microsoft was slapped with a $500+ million patent infringement judgement. Neither Eolas nor Microsoft will be disclosing terms of the deal, although Eolas told investors to expect a dividend (PDF). Microsoft didn't say whether or how the settlement would affect its approach to the underlying technology in IE or other programs. Just last month, the USPTO issued a non-final rejection of the patent's claims, citing the work of Pei-Yuan Wei as prior art."

Re:what?????

[jim_redwagon]

don't know the exact law/act/SEC rule, but my thoughts are MS will be able to bury it under a cost of doing business line item. especially one that's been used to pay fines/compliance for any anti-trust happiness they've been involved with.

Change in law

[sqldr]

The "dividends" part of this topic gives away the problem. A more mercenary person would now be slapping themselves for not investing in Eolas - and thus contributing to the problem and making money out of it.

There's one thing (another story) with suing over a frivolous patent if you make the product, but this company only exists to take money off another and give it to people who've done no work whatsoever.

Simple. Freeze the shares of a company who files an IP suit over a patent they're not using. If a company only has one patent and plans to start making something with it, they needn't worry - they can still make money from their product while getting an injunction against the competitor.

Flash where it shouldn't be

[Spy der Mann]

I have one thing to complain. While you have to click to play a video you already clicked, the annoying web adds do play instantly! :-S

The world isn't fair...