Federal Judge Nixes $390M Jury Verdict in Microsoft Patent Case
A stunning April jury verdict of almost $390 million against Microsoft Corp. in a patent infringement case brought by an anti-piracy software maker has been overturned by a federal judge.
U.S. District Judge William Smith wrote that the jury in the Rhode Island federal court case “lacked a grasp of the issues before it and reached a finding without a legally sufficient basis” in favor of Uniloc USA Inc., according to Bloomberg and Reuters.
He also said that even if an appeals court reverses his vacation of the verdict, Microsoft should still get a new trial concerning damages because Uniloc was incorrectly permitted to present a damages figure of $19 billion to the jury, Bloomberg reports.
A Microsoft spokesman tells Reuters that his company is pleased with the verdict. A Boston lawyer for Uniloc, which is based in Singapore, didn’t immediately return a Bloomberg call.
The $388 million verdict for Uniloc was reportedly the second-largest patent award this year.
Earlier related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Microsoft Wins Emergency Stay of Judge’s Ban on Word Product Sales”
