The unanimous Jan. 4 panel ruling in Uniloc USA Inc. v. Microsoft Corp. reversed a September 2009 ruling by the District of Rhode Island, which had vacated an April 2009 infringement verdict for Uniloc.
Although the Federal Circuit ruled that Microsoft infringed Uniloc’s patent for a software registration system designed to curb software copying, it determined that the evidence didn’t show willful infringement. It therefore affirmed the lower court’s judgment overturning the jury’s finding of willful infringement. The Federal Circuit also granted a new damages trial.
