Today, U.S. federal district judge Rudi Brewster reversed the jury’s ruling claiming that Microsoft had infringed on the patents held by Alcatel-Lucent and threw out the settlement.

Bewster said that the record $1.5 billion settlement could not stand because Microsoft had not violated one of the two patents related to MP3 files at the core of the case. Also in question was the ownership of the second patent with the judge saying that a new trial might be needed to determine who actually owns that patent.

I have to side with Microsoft on this one, if only for the fact that Alcatel conveniently waited so long for this "submarine" patent trolling. An interesting comment another person made was that if this judgment had stood, would Apple and other online digital music stores be liable as well?

An interesting comment another person made was that if this judgment had stood, would Apple and other online digital music stores be liable as well?