The software giant was ordered to pay $388 million in damages for the infringement on the anti-piracy patent held by Uniloc. Microsoft strongly disagreed with the court’s decision and insisted that it did not infringe any patent and that it would appeal the verdict. 

 

The law suit was filed in 2003 and the process took that long because Microsoft won the first lawsuit after a district court had granted summary judgment in Microsoft’s favor. However, Uniloc won the appeal. All the fuss is about the fact that Microsoft has allegedly infringed the patent in the anti-piracy software registration system the company uses as part of its product activation system. The lawsuit targets Windows XP as well as a number of Office programs. 

 

"We are very disappointed in the jury verdict,” said Microsoft spokesman David Bowermaster. 

 

We believe that we do not infringe, that the patent is invalid and that this award of damages is legally and factually unsupported. We will ask the court to overturn the verdict," the spokesman added. 

 

Uniloc did not comment on the ruling of the jury in Providence, Rhode Island. 

 

Microsoft’s shares fell slightly in after hours trading after the new broke out. 

 

Meanwhile, Apple Inc was also sued by Taiwan-based Elan Microelectronics over the multi-touch technology the Cupertino-based company used in its highly popular devices.