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Softvault sues Microsoft and others over DRM

18 January 2006 2:03 by James "Dela" Delahunty | 25 comments

Softvault sues Microsoft and others over DRM Softvault, a Washington based Intellectual Property company, has sued Microsoft and many other tech firms including Yahoo for alleged patent infringement. The main patent in question is "US patent 6,249,868". It covers security components for a computer which can enable or disable systems by use of a remote server. Softvault also claims that the companies it has targeted are infringing another one of its patents, US patent 6,594,765.

The main action is against Microsoft. It was filed in the Eastern District Court of Texas. Softvault alleges that products with the feature include Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Microsoft Office XP, Access 2002, Excel 2002, Vision 2002, Visual Studio Net, Office 2000 SR-1, Project 2000 SR-1, PowerPoint and other products. Softvault also alleges Microsoft infringes US patent 6,594,765.

Another case against Yahoo, Napster, Creative Labs, Dell, Gateway, Iriver, Samsung, Toshiba, Digital Networks, Palm, Audiovox, Sandisk and Thomson relates to the same patents but is slightly different. Softvault alleges that Microsoft distributes the Windows Media DRM software, which breaches its patent, and the other tech firms use the same DRM so they also infringe the patents.

Source:
The Inquirer


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    Discuss this article! 
    punx777 (Senior Member) 18 January 2006 3:36 Send private message to this user   
    I'm a huge M$ fan personally, so i hope they win
    lawndog (Member) 18 January 2006 4:20 Send private message to this user   
    ummmm article is kind of small and doesn't give to may details, but who cares....
    Wow does softwault realize the hornets nest it's poking at??? It's going after the biggest names in the computer industry. kind of interested how microsoft will handle this one.
    LD
    lawndog (Member) 18 January 2006 4:22 Send private message to this user   
    http://www.softvault.com/pages/1/index.htm explains the patents in question a little bit better
    LD
    Lucky_d (Newbie) 18 January 2006 4:55 Send private message to this user   
    Ah. These guys patented "keeping connection up through periodic ping checks". Awesome. Only a good half of network-based applications use a system that patent in question could argueably cover.
    January 2006 - viral patent suit month.
    riplord (Junior Member) 18 January 2006 8:05 Send private message to this user   
    Do you think Softvault could really handle a lawsuit of this magnatude?
    Auslander (AfterDawn Addict) 18 January 2006 8:44 Send private message to this user   
    whether one is a fan or enemy of M$ or any other group being sued isn't important. what is important is that, if these companies really did infringe a patent, they are made to pay reparations; if they don't, they'll get away with the same corporate thievery that they have gotten away with for so many decades, and another chance for the right thing to happen will not. even if your the big guy, that size doesn't entitle you to justify taking whatever you want from the little guy when he's the one who came up with it--even though countries get away with it all the time...coup d'etat!
    Mik3h (AfterDawn Addict) 18 January 2006 10:13 Send private message to this user   
    Hope iRiver are ok..

    -Mike
    tatsh (Junior Member) 18 January 2006 10:24 Send private message to this user   
    Who cares? It's DRM. Maybe this case will help with the reform of the patent system to disallow software patents once and for all.

    Also, anytime DRM is brought into public it is a good thing, since all these companies are always trying to hide it.
    peanuts2 (Member) 18 January 2006 10:24 Send private message to this user   
    good,glad to here that.Maybe Microsoft will bag the DRM because it sucks anyways.Either way they will still lose some money with getting sued or manufacturing a new OS with DRM.I wouldn't buy an OS with DRM so they lost some money right there.I do like microsoft though despite the DRM problem.I'm glad that softvault has a patent on their DRM.It will be interesting to see a small company sue a big giant.Any bets?
    neurokasm (Member) 18 January 2006 10:55 Send private message to this user   
    M$ will win this one.
    esrever (Member) 18 January 2006 12:32 Send private message to this user   
    Even if M$ doesnt win, it's not exactly going to hurt them.
    Rikoshay (Member) 18 January 2006 14:26 Send private message to this user   
    So either:

    A) This company wins, and they have their spy-technology protected by the government,

    or B) The big companies triumph, and we all continue to get stuck with ball-and-chain DRM.

    I think I'm just going to stop buying anything "legal" from now on.
    BrettKain (Newbie) 18 January 2006 14:28 Send private message to this user   
    I don't think M$ will win this one cause afterall whe nwas the last time such a small companie tried anything this big on M$. but thats just my oppinion
    sjm96 (Junior Member) 18 January 2006 14:34 Send private message to this user   
    Isn't it ironic that a website almost exclusively dedicated to facilitating the hacking industry would generate comments againts the same thing, only by corporations?
    Reasons? (Inactive) 18 January 2006 14:35 Send private message to this user   
    I'm pretty sick of al lthese little sh*t companies who sit back and patent ultra basic stuff and then don't say a boo until the settlement will be in the millions.

    These little lawsuits are all scams basically, the patent holder never says boo ultil the othe rocmpany unknowingly has infringed on the patent for years. Then they sue.
    jacsac (Member) 18 January 2006 14:37 Send private message to this user   
    sounds like a good idea to buy Softvault stock since microshaft will be buying them soon enough.;p
    sssharp (Junior Member) 18 January 2006 15:54 Send private message to this user   
    I would love to patent this: Before a company files a lawsuit against another company a one time fee must be payed to my company to continue with all of the bulls**t your company is complaining about. Patent 6,548,958.
    Reasons? (Inactive) 18 January 2006 19:19 Send private message to this user   
    You have the tens of thousands to patent whatever you want, go for it.
    rickster9 (Junior Member) 18 January 2006 19:28 Send private message to this user   
    Check out the actual patents. This company's claim seems to be a pile of ...well.... links for the patents are
    http://tinyurl.com/8kj2q
    and
    http://tinyurl.com/765dc

    (edited by admin, replaced long URLs with tinyurls)

    This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 18 January 2006 22:31

    marik1234 (Member) 18 January 2006 19:39 Send private message to this user   
    Yea, go softvault, hate microsoft...
    squizluke (Member) 20 January 2006 16:23 Send private message to this user   
    MS gets the sh*ts when their produccts are pirated or copyed or whatever. So they should treat other companys the same way they want to be treated.
    juzzoo (Inactive) 20 January 2006 21:22 Send private message to this user   
    i hope Softvault gets there ass countersued microsoft could higher the bigest lawyers and they will find a way to counter sue
    morguex (Inactive) 21 January 2006 16:14 Send private message to this user   
    All I can say is those people at softvault are idiots.
    Do they really thing they can win.
    Money talks and I wonder who has more.

    new2itall (Newbie) 21 January 2006 17:16 Send private message to this user   
    I think the software patents are a farce and should be revolked!
    snipinu (Newbie) 21 January 2006 20:10 Send private message to this user   
    I agree software patents are a bunch of cocka but unfortunately the Big M will win. MS makes 32 Million a day or more do you think a little company can take on these guys.
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