AT&T early this week filed patent litigation against Microsoft alleging infringement of patents protecting coding of voice signals and the provision of conference calls over the Internet.
AT&T indicated that it has been in licensing negotiations with the software giant for two years, but was unable to reach agreement. The suit seeks damages, a finding of willful infringement, and a permanent injunction.
Ironically, Microsoft is one of the largest shareholders of AT&T, having invested $5 billion in 1999. Nevertheless, the importance of AT&T's intellectual property was apparently sufficient to justify instituting the litigation.
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