48° CLEAR, Santa Rosa software company wins another patent dispute
Last Modified: Friday, May 9, 2008 at 4:38 p.m.
Santa Rosa software developer Burst.com has won a $533,500 settlement from digital media provider RealNetworks Inc. in a dispute over Burst patents.
The agreement gives Seattle-based RealNetworks a non-exclusive license to use Burst’s patented technology, the Santa Rosa company said Friday.
Burst, which was founded in 1988, developed “burst mode” software for delivering audio and video programming over digital networks. The three-person business now licenses the technology to other companies.
Last year, Burst won a $10 million settlement from Apple Inc., after claiming Apple had used its technology in its iPod music player, iTunes music service and QuickTime Streaming service.
In 2002, Burst won a $60 million settlement with Microsoft after claiming the software giant’s Windows Media Player violated its patents.
RealNetworks filed a lawsuit against Burst in U.S. District Court in San Francisco in January, seeking a ruling that its technology does not infringe on Burst patents.
RealNetworks makes software that streams audio and video to computers, media players and other devices, including RealPlayer, RealVideo and RealAudio. It also provides content through its Rhapsody digital music service and RealArcade gaming site.
On Friday, RealNetworks spokesman Bill Hankes confirmed the settlement but declined to discuss the terms.
“We’re happy to have the case behind us,” he said.
Burst CEO Richard Lang couldn’t be reached for comment Friday.
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