NEW YORK – As reported by Reuters news agency, long-distance telephone and cable television giant AT&T has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft, alleging the software company infringed on a patent for technology that reduces the size of computer sound files that contain voice recordings.
The patent covers AT&T technology that codes and decodes voice signals.
Speech-coding compresses speech signals, making a sound file smaller so it requires less time to transmit across a network and takes up less space on storage devices, such as computer hard drives.
Speech coding technology can be used in everyday products such as wireless telephones, voice messaging, as well as video conferencing and voice services sent over the Internet.
AT&T alleges Microsoft incorporated this technology into its Windows95, Windows98, Windows2000, WindowsNT and WindowsME operating systems. Reuters said that copy of a claim was obtained by the news agency.
Microsoft also distributed the technology through its Web site, AT&T said in the lawsuit. Microsoft said it had not been served with the lawsuit and could not comment.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued AT&T the patent on January 19, 1988, with AT&T notifying Microsoft in April, 1999 that it had infringed on the patent.
AT&T said it offered Microsoft a licence on the patent, but the software company refused.
“AT&T has been, and will continue to be, damaged and irreparably harmed by Microsoft’s infringement, which will continue unless Microsoft is enjoined by this court,” AT&T said in the lawsuit.
AT&T asked for a judgement against Microsoft, as well as damages and legal fees, according to the lawsuit.
