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For six years, the Internet Nexus served as my technology blog, but I've since started blogging at the SuperSite Blog instead. If you're looking for the blog, please head there. --Paul

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

Burst.com Files Patent Infringement Suit Against Apple Computer

And the thundering stupidity of Burst.com descends on Apple Computer:

Burst.com today announced that it has filed counterclaims accusing Apple Computer of infringing four of Burst's U.S. patents. In the counterclaims, filed in Federal District Court in San Francisco on Monday, April 17th, Burst alleges that Apple's iTunes Music Store, iTunes software, the iPod devices, and Apple's QuickTime Streaming products infringe Burst's U.S. Patents.

Burst requests in its counterclaims that Apple pay a reasonable royalty for Apple's infringing products and services, and also seeks an injunction against further infringement. A copy of the filing can be found on Burst's website: www.burst.com.

Ah, Burst.com. What have I written about them in the past?

In March 2005, Microsoft settled its own case with Burst for $60 million:

Burst.com sued Microsoft in June 2002, alleging that Microsoft had courted the company in a bid to purchase its then-new audio- and video-streaming technology. After 2 years of working closely with Burst.com, however, Microsoft suddenly broke off the relationship and shipped a suspiciously similar technology as part of Windows Media 9 Series. Burst.com says that Microsoft stole its streaming technology and then systematically destroyed related and damaging inhouse documentation to hide that fact.

Burst.com had developed something called "faster than real time" technology, which overcomes streaming buffering problems by feeding more media data than the player requests, according to the company. Apparently, they've done other things as well, based on its Apple lawsuit, which appears to cover a number of issues.

[ Posted at 9:24 AM | Permalink ]