Microsoft Gets Sued Over Xbox and Halo Games

[Zangief]

As reported on TeamXbox.com:

Microsoft is being sued by online chat company Paltalk Holdings Inc. over Xbox and the Halo first-person shooter games. Paltalk claims the Xbox platform infringes two Paltalk patents with the Halo games and the Xbox Live online gaming service. Paltalk demands a monetary compensation from Microsoft of $90 million. The patents in suit are U.S. Patent Numbers 5,822,523 and 6,266,686.

Developed by MPath Interactive Inc., these patents were acquired by Paltalk for less than $200,000, Microsoft lawyer David Pritikin told the jury. That's why the Microsoft lawyer said that even if the jury agrees with Paltalk's claim, the patents aren't worth $90 million.

Microsoft claims it had meetings with MPath, but after studying their technology the software giant decided to take a different direction in the development of the technology that allows two or more systems to communicate with each other and allows gamers to enjoy Halo multiplayer.

[DeluXe]

90 million aint nothin for Bill Gates

[Mind Slaver]

Doesn't he make that in his sleep?

[Zangief]

He's not as rich as he used to be.

[Nobody]

Gates is still the richest guy in the world though. IMO I think this company is just trying to make a quick buck.

[Zangief]

down 18 billion from last year

Last year the world had 1,125 billionaires. Today there are 793. How $1.4 trillion vanished.

www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0330/076-up-in-smoke.html

The economy scares me right now, luckily I have just enough experience to make be valuable.

[lx Spooner xl]

90 million isn't anything to a big company like that


but i got fired from one of the worlds biggest retail chains over 10dollars and 49 cents

[Metalix ShadowX]

So is there an actual reason for them sueing? or does it just say who is getting sued and who is sueing?

[FrkUout]

They're being sued for supposed patent infringement.

The patents in suit are U.S. Patent Numbers 5,822,523 and 6,266,686.

If MS had gone with the original company there wouldn't be a suit but I have to wonder why it's taken them so long to bring a case.

=edit=

From joystiq.com

While we were gearing up for an epic, The Firm-esque judicial showdown, it seems Microsoft has settled the lawsuit filed against it by PalTalk Holdings, who claimed certain components of Xbox Live infringe upon two of their patents. Neither company announced how much Microsoft forked over in the settlement -- we assume it was significantly less than the exorbitant $90 million in damages PalTalk was seeking. While we don't know the particulars of how money changed hands in the settlement, a Microsoft spokesperson confirmed it was an "amicable agreement," so it's pretty safe to assume that hugs were exchanged.

[DeluXe]

haha yeah i doubt they wanted to go to court with microsoft