3 ms·

Does this mean MS must pay back royalties? To whom?

• delinka 13y ago
  Not automatically, no. And I'd bet that the contracts (i.e. 'licenses') that they've agreed to thus far have a clause that prevents the licensee from seeking a refund should the patents ever be found invalid.
  • talmand 13y ago
    Not only that, I'm willing to bet they would have to continue paying the royalties unless they can get out of the license contract by some legal means.
  • tanzam75 13y ago
    > And I'd bet that the contracts (i.e. 'licenses') that they've agreed to thus far have a clause that prevents the licensee from seeking a refund should the patents ever be found invalid. The licensees probably get a blanket license to all of Microsoft's patents. That's what the lawyers always demand in any patent settlement. Thus, the loss of this one patent is immaterial anyway.
• mrich 13y ago
  This is the interesting question. I think they don't have to.