Microsoft loses US top court case on patent

The US Supreme Court ruled against Microsoft Corp on Thursday, rejecting its appeal of a record $290 million jury verdict for infringing a small Canadian software firm's patent. The justices unanimously upheld a US appeals court ruling that went against the world's largest software company in its legal battle with Toronto-based i4i.
The high court rejected Microsoft's argument to adopt a lower standard to replace the long-standing requirement that a defendant in a patent infringement case prove by clear and convincing evidence that a plaintiff's patent is invalid. Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft argued that a lower standard of proof involving a "preponderance of the evidence" would make some patents more vulnerable to legal challenge while promoting innovation and competition.