Microsoft to Pay $1.52 Bln in Patent Suit Damages

An anonymous reader writes: A U.S. federal jury found that Microsoft Corp. infringed audio patents held by Alcatel-Lucent and should pay $1.52 billion in damages, Microsoft said Thursday. The news comes after reports that U.S. Supreme Court justices expressed doubts about whether Microsoft Corp. should be liable for infringing AT&T Inc. patents in Windows software sold overseas. Despite the news, shares of Microsoft closed 4 cents higher, at $29.39, on Thursday.