Microsoft last month settled a claim which alleged that its
NetMeeting software infringed a real-time internet conferencing
patent held by technology company Imagexpo. Microsoft agreed to
licence the technology and pay $60 million.06 Jan 2004
Imagexpo filed the action in October 2002 alleging that the patent was infringed by the NetMeeting Whiteboard feature of various Microsoft products. In November last year a jury found in favour of Imagexpo and awarded $62.3 million in compensatory damages. The jury also found that Microsoft wilfully infringed the patent.
The final amount of the award was left hanging, pending a court decision on several issues that could have increased the award significantly – possibly tripling it. Ultimately, however, Microsoft reached a more favourable result, requiring it to pay $60 million by 30th December.