Small firms aim to block WindowsXP

Will tiny InterTrust Technologies of Santa Clara prevent Microsoft from

launching Windows XP? The company announced it is expanding its patent

infringement lawsuit against Microsoft.

According to InterTrust, Microsoft's Windows MediaPlayer and Windows ME and

XP operating systems software infringe on InterTrust patents covering

"digital rights management," that prevent the piracy of downloaded

copyrighted music, movies and other digital content.

InterTrust filed the lawsuit back in April. That covered piracy prevention of

downloaded material. Now the lawsuit is expanded to add prevent unauthorized

duplication of material being copied from one device to another, such as from a

PC to an MP3 player. InterTrust was awarded a patent for that as well just last

week.

InterTrust has asked a federal court to stop sales of any Microsoft products

that infringe on the patents. "The underlying issue is Microsoft's failure

to respect InterTrust's pioneering, inventive work,'' said Ed Fish, president of

the MetaTrust Utility, an InterTrust subsidiary.

Microsoft is denying it is violating InterTrust's patent rights and said the

lawsuit is just a desperate attempt by InterTrust to avoid competing in the

marketplace. InterTrust, was founded in 1990. It has licensing agreements and

business partnerships with AOL-Time Warner, Adobe Systems, Nokia, Universal

Music Group and Blockbuster.