News that Microsoft has been fined for violating MP3
patents belonging to Alcatel-Lucent could have widespread fallout for
the industry.

Experts now suggest the US ruling could lead to hundreds
of firms – including Apple and RealNetworks – being pursued for
payments relating to the format….

“Microsoft is saying ‘we paid for a licence to use it from the company that everybody believes is the licensee’,” Mr Glick says.

“But clearly there is something in that, the court in
the States has found that Alcatel-Lucent has rights towards this that
aren’t covered by the licence.”