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Microsoft Facing Even More Legal Problems

InterTrust expands its lawsuit against the software giant again, claiming activation features violate patents.

Sumner Lemon, IDG News Service

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InterTrust Technologies has once more expanded its patent infringement case against Microsoft.

This time the Santa Clara, California-based company has alleged that the software activation feature included in several Microsoft products, including Windows XP, Office XP, and Visio 2002, violates patents held by InterTrust, according to a statement released Tuesday.

Microsoft's activation feature is intended to combat software piracy by disabling software that does not have an installation ID from the software vendor. Users receive the installation ID from Microsoft by registering their software online or over the phone.

In June, InterTrust first amended its complaint against Microsoft and requested an injunction to halt the sale of Microsoft products, including Windows ME and Windows XP, which is scheduled to go on sale later this year.

In the original complaint, filed on April 26, InterTrust alleged that Microsoft's Windows Media Player and other products implement a variety of rights management functions that infringe on a patent issued to InterTrust in February this year. Digital rights management technology helps to manage and protect proprietary data such as digital music files.

Microsoft officials were not immediately available for comment.

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