news bulletin – answers

Patents rejected in software battle

true/false

1. This story is new. F: it is a ‘long running saga’ i.e. an old story
2. There is a new development. T: ‘a new twist’
3. The new software allows users to create calendars. F: their software allows people to add dates to calendars
4. The company were awarded US $ 5 million. F: US$ 3.58m, the amount has increased to 5m due to interest
5. Microsoft is appealing against the award. T
6. This new information will help Microsoft. T: it will bolster (give confidence) their appeal
7. Companies are racing against each other to develop new software. T: in a headlong rush
8. The disputes have been largely small. F: they have been ‘titanic’ very large
9. They are unexpected. F: they are expected, but the scale is unexpected
10. A soap opera is being written about the issue. F: the whole situation is developing into a soap opera i.e. becoming unreal and ridiculous
11. Microsoft and Alcatel have been in dispute for 4 years. F: since 2003 so 6 years
12. The largest award made was US$ 1.5 billion. F: this was awarded but then overturned, so never paid