Microsoft infringes through distribution of master outside of US

Microsoft Corp. infringed an AT&T Corp. patent for speech-coding technology in its distribution of a master version of the Windows operating system outside of the U.S. for replication abroad, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled Wednesday, July 26, concluding the final issue remaining from a 2001 lawsuit.

This is a significant decision in establishing the reach of US patent law.