Microsoft Settles Patent Spat with Eolas

September 4th, 2007

An eight-year court battle between Microsoft and Eolas Technologies has come to an end. The software giant settled with Eolas for an undisclosed amount to put the case in the annals of intellectual property war history.The drama began in February 1999, when the University of California spin-off filed suit against Microsoft for patent infringement. Eolas claimed that Microsoft trespassed on its plug-in and applet technologies. Specifically, the company accused Microsoft of using its patented technologies in Windows 98, Windows 95, and Internet Explorer, and said it wanted royalties on the sales of the products.

Although the companies aren’t publicizing details of the settlement, a letter Eolas COO Mark Swords wrote to the company’s shareholders offers some dollars and cents information. Shareholders will gain a $50 to $72 per share dividend thanks to the Microsoft payout. “We hope that you will understand we simply cannot now or in the future provide any confidential details regarding the terms of the settlement,” Swords’ letter stated.

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