Guatemalan inventor Carlos Amado claims that he developed the
application in 1990 and then approached Microsoft in 1992, when the
company declined to buy his program. Amado went on to patent the
software but, he says, a year later Microsoft came out with a very
similar application in its 1995 Office software programs.
Amado sued in 2003, claiming around $500 million in damages, and
the case went to trial last month in the
US
District
Court of Central California.
The jury has now returned its verdict, dismissing nine of the 10
claims made by Amado, according to Reuters. It upheld one, however,
awarding $8.96 million to Amado for sales of the software between
March 1997 and July 2003.
District Judge David Carter will have to decide on the level of
damages that should be awarded for sales since then.
Amado’s lawyer, Vince Belusko, described the case as a classic
David versus Goliath.
“We are pleased with the verdict, which clearly states that Mr
Amado’s patent rights have been vindicated,” he said. “This has
been a long struggle for our client and he is finally getting
what’s owed to him, recognition for a valuable innovation.”
Amado added: “This is a great day to finally get the validation
that my invention has value. I am pleased that Microsoft has been
forced to recognise this innovation as a useful and unique
application that benefits their millions of users.”
Microsoft spokeswoman Stacy Drake told reporters that it was too
early to say whether an appeal would be lodged.
“While today's verdict is disappointing, we are pleased that the
jury rejected Mr Amado's large damage claims," she said.
