WSJ.com - Microsoft Adds Its Voice to Call For Overhauling Patent System

WSJ.com - Microsoft Adds Its Voice to Call For Overhauling Patent System: "Microsoft Corp.'s top lawyer called for an overhaul of the U.S. patent system and said the software company will apply more political muscle to see it through.
The comments, made in a speech yesterday to the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., came as Burst.com Inc. announced it had reached an agreement with Microsoft over a long-running suit that accused the Redmond, Wash., software company of patent infringement and violating antitrust laws.
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The software maker in recent years has put more focus on its patent policy to better protect itself from suits. At any given time, Mr. Smith said the company is defending against roughly 35 to 40 patent suits at an annual cost to the company of about $100 million."