It's a proven fact. Create successful technology and someone will sue you for patent infringement. It happened with the iPod, it happened with the Dual Shock, and now it's happening with Xbox Live. A New York company named Paltalk has sued Microsoft because Xbox Live apparently infringes upon two of its patents. At this juncture, Paltalk hasn't actually submitted any, you know, evidence of this, but asserts that is has suffered "tens of millions of dollars" in damages. One has to question the credibility of such a claim, considering Xbox Live is already four years old. Then again, if all you're looking to do is squeeze money out an already entrenched service, it makes perfect sense. Microsoft wants Xbox Live to keep humming along, and will likely pay whatever amount is necessary to keep it so -- if they lose the case that is. On an interesting note, Paltalk chose to sue Microsoft in eastern Texas, based on the fact that "Microsoft has subscribers who reside in the Eastern District of Texas, and Microsoft provides infringing online services to its subscribers in this district." Yeah, that might be the reason. Then again, I wonder what the ratio of guilty/not guilty verdicts is in a Texas court.
Whatever happens, don't worry your pretty little head about it. Xbox Live isn't going anywhere. It's not like Live is some little extra feature that Microsoft could live without like, say, rumble functionality.
[Thanks, Pixelantes Anonymous]
