This week in Microsoft lawsuits

This week in Microsoft lawsuits

A roundup of Microsoft-related legal activity this week:

Forefront trademark suit: A Seattle software company, Dexter & Chaney Inc., alleges that Microsoft is violating its trademark with the choice of the "Forefront" name for its upcoming line of corporate security software. Here's the motion for preliminary injunction: PDF, 17 pages.

Dexter & Chaney has used the name for more than 18 years for its construction-related software, and says Microsoft's use of "Forefront" would confuse the market. Microsoft disagrees, saying the products and distribution channels are different enough to avoid confusion.

Xbox Live patent suit: PalTalk Holdings Inc. sued Microsoft over multi-player technology used in the Xbox Live system. Here's the complaint: PDF, 9 pages. See coverage by Ars Technica and CNet News.com. As of earlier this week, Microsoft was reviewing the complaint and declined to comment.

Cryptography patent: Microsoft won a U.S. Patent & Trademark ruling that bolsters its case in a 1997 patent lawsuit over authentication codes in video games, Bloomberg News reports. See the second item in this technology news digest. If you're in the mood for some very technical reading, here's the original patent at the center of the dispute. And here's a 2003 court memorandum and order that includes background on the case: PDF, 44 pages.

Iowa antitrust suit: Bill Gates is on the list of potential witnesses as one of the last outstanding consumer antitrust class-action suits against Microsoft heads for a November trial. Here's the petition outlining the plaintiffs' case: PDF, 93 pages.

"We're looking forward to being in Iowa and having the opportunity to address these claims and defend our business model of selling high-quality software at fair and reasonable prices," Microsoft attorney Rich Wallis told the Associated Press.

European Union: This isn't a suit, specifically, but there has been lots of back-and-forth between Microsoft and the European Commission over the past week about potential antitrust problems with Windows Vista and Office. See the stories: Vista may be delayed in EU; Microsoft debates Vista security with EU; and Microsoft Office is under EU scrutiny.

Posted by at September 15, 2006 6:27 p.m.
Category: Legal Issues

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