StreamCast Networks had claimed that it had
rights to some of the underlying technology used by internet phone
firm Skype.
US District Judge Florence-Marie Cooper threw
StreamCast's claims out, ruling that it had failed to make its case
for damages. StreamCast had sued for a share of the $4.1 billion
that eBay paid for Skype 18 months ago.
The suit was filed under anti-racketeering
legislation and claimed that it had first refusal rights to
FastTrack, a technology which underpinned Zennström and Friis's
previous venture, file sharing software firm Kazaa.
StreamCast claimed some rights to FastTrack,
and said that FastTrack is used in the routing of Skype phone calls
around the internet. It said that Zennström and Friis had profited
enormously from Skype and its sale to eBay, and that it was
entitled to some of that money.
Cooper ruled that the case was not proven
under federal antitrust laws and dismissed the claims made against
Skype and its owner eBay.
StreamCast General Counsel Matthew Neco told
the AP news service that the company would appeal the ruling or may
pursue the case in state courts. The judge had had the opportunity
to apply state laws, such as unfair competition laws, to the case,
but did not use it.
"This case is far from over," Neco told
AP.
