Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : How high will Microsoft fly? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: pat pasquale who wrote (30590)	10/13/1999 6:23:00 PM
From: t2	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74651

The priceline lawsuit is probably insignificant to MSFT in relation to its business. It may just be a ploy to work out some deal with Priceline. Priceline has too much to lose in the event they seek a decision through the courts. I bet MSFT thought long and hard before "infringing" on PRLN's patent. In case there are others that have challenged PRLN's patent, they probably thought it is better to go after MSFT. Does anyone know if PRLN is being challenged on its patent by other companies? Like i said earlier, it is probably insignificant to MSFT's business. I wonder if such cases would be presented before a jury. I bet that is the way MSFT would proceed if it is up to them. Any reasonable person would ask--- how can you get a patent for the way a business is transacted? We don't have patents on the way (for example) currency exchanges work.

To: pat pasquale who wrote (30590)	10/14/1999 12:18:00 PM
From: Dinesh	Respond to of 74651

Re: Priceline lawsuit [snip] priceline.com's complaint explains how, over an eight month period, Microsoft sought - and was provided with - detailed confidential information and technical data regarding priceline.com. Over that period, during which nondisclosure agreements were entered into, [snip] It sounds like the NDAs were put into place after they exchanged a lot of information. Remember, this is priceline's version of the story. priceline's patent has been questioned before. For that matter, someone got a patent for the basics of ecommerce many years ago (exchanging financial data online). Go figure. These are probably just tactical moves in some other game. -Dinesh